Argument about good and evil using the Jedi and Sith

[Qwerty 42]

I only cut the relevant portion out of the conversation, which is why the conversation may look and sound awkward. "Kaiser" and my AIM names have been changed for the sake of privacy. As for spelling and grammar errors, this convo was copied exactly as it was written. Everything following the bolded section is a carbon copy of the convo, exempting the screennames and spacing added for an easier read.

KAISER2387: dont see why the jedi saw it as 200 jedi = 0 sith
KAISER2387: its not balance to the force

Qwerty42: well, a Sith is dangerous to the force, it distrubs it. So bringing balance to the force would require eliminating all of its disturbances
Qwerty42: don't think of it as a scale

KAISER2387: but arent they the same, jedi and sith

Qwerty42: not really

KAISER2387: a jedi warps the force to his whim, a sith warps it to his
KAISER2387: they just warp it different ways
KAISER2387: nobody said the force was meant to be PURE god
KAISER2387: good*

Qwerty42: good is a superior outcome, claiming that society should be some part evil is foolish

KAISER2387: evil is always there thougfh
KAISER2387: ying and yang
KAISER2387: light and dark
KAISER2387: "you cannot be close to the light and not cast a bigger and bigger shadow"

Qwerty42: but that doesn't make it right and nesscecary

KAISER2387: nobody said which side is right though

Qwerty42: what sort of idiotic question is that?

KAISER2387: it was a question?

Qwerty42: alright, what sort of idiotic idea is that?

KAISER2387: a justified one

Qwerty42: by virtue of being evil, it is not right

KAISER2387: not being evil, but not being good
KAISER2387: and who ever set that rule!
KAISER2387: since when has someone said, Evil is bad, Pure is good

Qwerty42: common sense? evil is bad, they are mutually inclusive, they are the same

KAISER2387: where did the idea originate

Qwerty42: Definitions of evil on the Web:

morally bad or wrong; "evil purposes"; "an evil influence"; "evil deeds"

KAISER2387: but when did people create that sidea?
KAISER2387: idea*
KAISER2387: before it was a word
KAISER2387: just an entity

Qwerty42: that evil is bad? they are synonyms

KAISER2387: but why?
KAISER2387: you're not getting my point
KAISER2387: since when was it cut that this is evil, that is not
KAISER2387: who decided the line

Qwerty42: it varies

KAISER2387: is seeking power as the sith did evil?

Qwerty42: for themselves, yes it is
Qwerty42: for manipulation, yes it is

KAISER2387: but with that power they could do things greater than anything else
KAISER2387: anyone else

Qwerty42: but they corrupted

KAISER2387: emotion is the strongest drive
KAISER2387: h/o

Qwerty42: the Dark Side is not inherently evil, that people who corrupt to its temptations are

KAISER2387: but is it no0t possible for someone to be un-corrupt

Qwerty42: almost all philosophers agree that good is based off of "do unto others as you would have them do unto you"
Qwerty42: it is possible

KAISER2387: then the side of so called evil can be of use

Qwerty42: the Dark Side is not inherently evil, I said that already

KAISER2387: heres a line from a book
KAISER2387: h/o
KAISER2387: need to find it :p
KAISER2387: its about anger and hate
KAISER2387: "It's not a good thing, not a bad thing, just what's so. But you may want to think about what result this kind of emotion has produced in the past. Or might produce again in the future"

Qwerty42: well yes, what do you think I've been saying? The Dark Side is not inherently evil

KAISER2387: yes
KAISER2387: it is in all respect as good as the Light Side

Qwerty42: exactly

KAISER2387: its like comunism
KAISER2387: its good until a human element is introduced
Qwerty42: but the Jedi use their abilities to help others, the Sith for themselves
KAISER2387: but it was meant for a human elemtnt
KAISER2387: thats only the human element of the Dark Side

Qwerty42: exactly
Qwerty42: we see in TPM and RotJ that Jedi use the Force in an offensive fashion (the Dark Side), but they didn't turn evil because they were still using it for the greater good

KAISER2387: if there was, for instance, a pure nice guy who seeked power and would do anything to get it. If he helped people with his "ill got" power would he still be Sith

Qwerty42: by seeking power for himself, he is no longer a nice guy

KAISER2387: how odd, the ice-cream man is playing Bach

Qwerty42: lol

Qwerty42: Obi-Wan and Luke use the Dark Side, but it's still for the greater good rather than themselves, which is why they are still good people
Qwerty42: well not Obi-Wan so much as Luke

KAISER2387: how so?
KAISER2387: the whole force lightning thing

Qwerty42: he choked the two Gamorreans in RotJ to gain access to the palace
Qwerty42: but he wasn't using it to better himself, but others

KAISER2387: RotJ and RotS are WAY to similar an acronym
KAISER2387: true but he wasnt seeking power per say

Qwerty42: tis true
Qwerty42: RotJ RotS that is

KAISER2387: i noe
KAISER2387: timestamp will prove your case

Qwerty42: thank ye

KAISER2387: i'm so saving this convo

Qwerty42: same

KAISER2387: and any philosophical topics we may ever encounter

Qwerty42: he wasn't seeking personal power, he was seeking to help the greater good

KAISER2387: true, i do not argue that

Qwerty42: just reiterating

KAISER2387: but, thats a tad off topic. im saying that the Dark Side, in itself as an entity, isnt evil

Qwerty42: which is exactly what I'm saying

KAISER2387: then we are in an agreement. Human Elements F everything up

Qwerty42: I'm saying that those who yield to it's temptations of gaining personal power using it are evil
Qwerty42: corruption is a natural part of sentient life

KAISER2387: there are some who cannot be corrupted

Qwerty42: it's like atomic energy- it itself is not evil, but those who use it as a weapon to furthur themselves ARE evil
Qwerty42: no one is impervious to corruption

KAISER2387: it is those people that should be named Saints

Qwerty42: merely stronger
Qwerty42: like there are no perfect circles, but you can come very close

KAISER2387: true

Qwerty42: stop typing for a second so I can save the convo

KAISER2387: you can come closer and closer but there is no perfect

[Zero]

The dark side, from my understanding (limited at best), at least, is that it's the same force, but it's derived from personal desires as opposed to the greater good. Working towards the greater good is the light side. Neither are actually good or evil. Good and evil are both just arbitrary values that we assign to various actions. Neither exist, outside of our minds. There are many ways we can define good and evil, but it's still just an idea. Concepts of good and evil generally do involve working for the greater good, or working for your own selfish desires, though.