RE: Funny thing about theodicy
April 12, 2014 at 7:02 am
(This post was last modified: April 12, 2014 at 7:02 am by Esquilax.)
(April 12, 2014 at 3:28 am)Jacob(smooth) Wrote: Just going to throw this out there. It's not meant to be a comparison, just a point of interest.
If you like star wars you should really consider reading the expanded universe books, set after the events of return of the Jedi. They somewhat repackage darth sideous. See one of his things was the ability to see the future. He foresaw an invasion by extragalactic aliens, the yuuzhan vong. They rocked up in "worldships" and started wiping out planets wholesale. A genocide of planets, not just populations. The galactic alliance gets completely raped because the army, military infrastructure and planet busters (death stars) which palpatine had been building to defend against these invaders had been blown up by a bunch of teenagers. In some places the rebel alliance is positively reviled for destroying the galaxy's best chance for survival. The galactic empire would have stood a chance, the new Republic didn't.
They're great books. They add real depth to the universe. Just sayin.
So the guy could see into the future, but he was unable to see the destruction of everything he worked for?
More importantly: so he has a vision of the future and, absent any evidence but the things in his head, attempts to conquer a galaxy by force, kill anyone who opposed him, and bend the course of history to his will. How could he possibly be rationally justified in doing that? Yes, the claim was eventually borne out true, but the rebels were absolutely justified in fighting back even if they knew Palpatine's rationale because he never bothered with evidence.
Saying "oh, this course of action was okay because he believed the ends justified the means" doesn't work here because the ends were indistinguishable from a delusion and the means seem like any other dictatorship founded on the crazy ideological beliefs of a single person or group of people. That's how fucking cults get started.
Get you some evidence before you start killing to get your way based on a dream you had. Send one ship out to look for these assholes. That way, not only do you know you're acting for the right reasons, but you also have something you can use to explain the situation to others and maybe get things done peacefully.
"YOU take the hard look in the mirror. You are everything that is wrong with this world. The only thing important to you, is you." - ronedee
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Want to see more of my writing? Check out my (safe for work!) site, Unprotected Sects!