A profoundly misunderstood line in cinema is delivered by Obi-Wan Kenobi as he confronts Anakin Skywalker's betrayal. When he claims, "Only a Sith deals in absolutes," viewers mistake this as hypocrisy, unable to parse the difference between describing a category and participating in one. The words "only" and "deals" are doing heavy lifting, suggesting that absolute thinking is all-encompassing. Their common rebuttal, "that statement itself is an absolute," shows the extent of their reasoning before running out of tracks. It is incomplete and doesn't go far enough into the context, leaving its deeper implications unexamined.
Jedi philosophy aspires to distance the individual from emotions and absolutes. Analogously, they float above situations in a spiritual sense, observing with detachment. In that way, they are more capable of describing categories without necessarily falling into the trap of one-dimensional thinking, as the Sith are defined by. Why viewers find this line so perplexing is that Kenobi is employing a rhetorical trap. If you find his line to be an absolute, you are the one guilty of absolute thinking.
This distinction is possible because objectivity and an awareness of epistemological frameworks allow for the description of categories without becoming entangled in them. Here, Kenobi is diagnosing the issue with Anakin and the Sith philosophy. He is a metaphysical doctor, offering clinical opinion without sharing the same disease. His ability to rise above binary categories sets an example for others, and it begins with their comprehension of his aphoristic claim.
By contrast, Anakin states, "If you are not with me, then you are against me." This is the same reductive reasoning that Kenobi had warned against minutes prior. There can be, he says, a middle ground. Anakin, however, becomes the embodiment of Sith philosophy, rejecting any potential for compromise and claiming Kenobi as an enemy because they don't share the necessary categorical attributes.
Kenobi argues for democracy and the ability to choose to be free. Supplied with the context of Jedi philosophy, we know what he's really urging is the extrication of people from their inherent frameworks—whether those be political or social. Anakin has trapped himself within the Sith framework. So in a real sense, his behavior is determined by their philosophy. He has assimilated into that dogma, sacrificing his autonomy. The Anakin that Kenobi once knew is dead and will become Vader, having abandoned the Jedi code and the principles of Republicanism that once drove his behavior. What Kenobi reveals is an indictment of many people: "You have allowed the dark Lord to twist your mind." As if, with compassionate judgment, Kenobi is asking us also, "Who is your dark lord?" Is it television and media? Political organizations or dogmatic religions? What categories have you entangled yourself within, and wouldn't your life gain wisdom and calm if you were to rise above, as an individual, and view the world with greater clarity—through a disciplined, orienting presence, such as the Force?
We see the mindset of absolutism clearly when Anakin tries to fit Kenobi into a metaphorical box labeled "enemy," "democracy," and "Jedi." Kenobi can only be considered an enemy if he embodies those attributes. Therefore, he urges Kenobi to join his side, to relinquish his beliefs, so that he may meld into the Sith's philosophy.
However, Kenobi's argument is unintelligible to Anakin precisely because it rests on spiritual freedom and not categorical allegiance. Such allegiances may consume the individual, as Anakin's love for Padmé or hate for the Jedi consumed him. Anakin counters that Kenobi himself is trapped within the Jedi's infrastructure of lies and dishonesty. The difference here is that the Jedi philosophy encourages the enlightenment and betterment of others by teaching reconnection with the omnipresent Force. In contrast, the Sith aim to restrict or eradicate other frames of thought, evidenced by Anakin's force choke of Padmé after she refuses to join him.
The Star Wars universe, inspired by Greek tragedy, parallels modern culture. Why this line is so important to current discourse is that we're seeing the Sith philosophy among the populace. They have reverted to the absolute thinking of categorical frameworks. No longer are they able to merely describe categories, but they too must place undue moral or social pressure upon them, as does Anakin. They share his mindset: "If you're not with me, then you're against me." Our salvation lies in people's comprehension of Kenobi's line, "Only a Sith deals in absolutes." We may describe categories, as does he, but must rise above being ensnared by them.
Comments to the editor are welcome: thedeidaily@gmail.com