Force Powers

Today while I was sitting in my philosophy class someone asked me what I was listening too, it was before the class started, and I answered "Star Wars", he said that was cool and asked if I had played Force Unleashed 2 yet. I told him that I hadn't yet and then his next statement prompted a discussion that continued as the professor entered the room and eventually joined in.

"I think the force powers are a little unrealistic."

Here was his main point, that in the video game Starkiller seemed a little too powerful and that there are no real instances other than the games of such power in the Star Wars Universe. He did however, mention that the EU expanded on some of the Jedi powers through the adventures of Luke and his family. I began to explain a few of the theories I have one why this is one of the only instances of such power.

My main objection to his argument is that George Lucas never stated that the force was a meek and tame thing. The most telling evidence that the force is very powerful is from the line by Darth Vader in episode 4 "The ability to destroy a planet is insignificant next to the power of the force." That is a very strong statement, could the force be used to do more damage than the Death Star? Quite possibly, but it has never been documented to my knowledge.

In thinking about this I realized that it could be a very very powerful and destructive thing. Yoda says that the force binds everything together and that size does not matter and that for example that moving the X-Wing is no different from moving the rock. If that is the case then wouldn't someone be able to cause enormous things to be destroyed?

To this he replied "Isn't Yoda more powerful than the Emperor? Why did he not use those powers to defeat him?" My reason was that the Jedi only use the force for defensive purposes never as a way to attack like the Sith do. I also said that the Jedi are taught to use self control and would never use the force to harm someone where the Dark Side is all about using your emotions and power for personal gain. So Yoda even though he could have easily defeated the Emperor he chose to do it in the fashion of the Jedi Order as to not go against all he trained for...also that it wasn't his destiny to bring balance to the force by riding of the emperor (I have thoughts about the balance of the force but that is for another time).

Then we had to start class.