The Philosophy of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic Franchise | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Entertainment

The Philosophy of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic Franchise

What justifies your actions?

274
The Philosophy of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic Franchise

I remember this game inside and out. More so, I remember how much of an impact it had on me. Now, when I say impact I don't necessary mean it's changed my perspective on life or anything at all, but rather I hold all video games I play up to these. To me, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic holds up as one of the best standards of video games ever created.

The video game franchise to date consists of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II -The Sith Lords. I recall first playing KotOR a long time ago on my out desktop. I naturally found it intensely difficult because I was roughly 8 or 9 years old when I finally started playing the games. I didn't fully understand what the games were about in my first playthrough, let alone what else they could provoke when it came to philosophy. It's been a decade since then. These were among the first few video games that I've played to completion.

KotOR in my opinion never managed to craft any intense thought provoking philosophical questions to me. But there was always an idea in the back of my head when I consider the plot of the game. It's been well over a decade since these games came out, so I'm going ahead and spoiling something which is arguably the biggest plot twist in video game history. In the game, the player character was originally the leader of the Sith(the bad guys). The player was betrayed by fellow sith, and then captured and have had their memories wiped and then they work for the Jedi(the good guys). The question I asked was did the Jedi have the right to completely rearrange someone's mind just to gain an advantage in the war? To utterly change someone's mind and dedicate down a path that they wanted? If this happened to me I would be utterly outraged, I wouldn't want to serve them or anyone else. To me, this is fairly cut and dry, but it still is open to debate regardless.

When I first played KotOR II, I did feel like something different. The video game was drastically different from its predecessor. It wasn't a story about saving the galaxy but rather it was something that was able to effectively build onto the world and make players question the mythos of the Star Wars universe.

The video game raised serious questions about the morality of the characters we've seen in the games, but not only that the ideas and the groups they represented. It took the idea of choices, destiny, and consequences to thought-provoking levels. The following video is to me perhaps one of the most memorable moments on in the game that has managed to stay with me to this day.


The game features a character named Kreia as the main thought provoking character. She is constantly asking you to justify your actions whether you are robbing someone or giving a gift of charity. Claiming that both paths only create more suffering, and the only benefit they give you is more strength.

It goes more forward and makes people analyze their own codes they follow in real life. Claiming that the codes that people follow only manage to limit themselves by preventing them to gain more strength.

While the philosophy to me in KotOR is very cut and dry, KotOR II is very thought provoking and extremely diverse in a playthrough. It gets even more diverse when the game is expanded with it's cut content restored. There are so many questions that the game creates and makes people ponder. What horrors do wars create? Is having the moral high ground all the justification you need? Is doing something we think good only going to create more pain?

These questions are never going to have a direct answer, but that's what's beautiful about philosophy there is never a direct answer it provokes questions that we need to ponder and try to answer to ourselves. And to me, that is what KotOR II does beautifully. If you're ever looking for a thought provoking experience then definitely give the game a chance. You may very well surprise yourself.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Entertainment

Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

These powerful lyrics remind us how much good is inside each of us and that sometimes we are too blinded by our imperfections to see the other side of the coin, to see all of that good.

131004
Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

The song was sent to me late in the middle of the night. I was still awake enough to plug in my headphones and listen to it immediately. I always did this when my best friend sent me songs, never wasting a moment. She had sent a message with this one too, telling me it reminded her so much of both of us and what we have each been through in the past couple of months.

Keep Reading...Show less
Zodiac wheel with signs and symbols surrounding a central sun against a starry sky.

What's your sign? It's one of the first questions some of us are asked when approached by someone in a bar, at a party or even when having lunch with some of our friends. Astrology, for centuries, has been one of the largest phenomenons out there. There's a reason why many magazines and newspapers have a horoscope page, and there's also a reason why almost every bookstore or library has a section dedicated completely to astrology. Many of us could just be curious about why some of us act differently than others and whom we will get along with best, and others may just want to see if their sign does, in fact, match their personality.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

20 Song Lyrics To Put A Spring Into Your Instagram Captions

"On an island in the sun, We'll be playing and having fun"

30139
Person in front of neon musical instruments; glowing red and white lights.
Photo by Spencer Imbrock on Unsplash

Whenever I post a picture to Instagram, it takes me so long to come up with a caption. I want to be funny, clever, cute and direct all at the same time. It can be frustrating! So I just look for some online. I really like to find a song lyric that goes with my picture, I just feel like it gives the picture a certain vibe.

Here's a list of song lyrics that can go with any picture you want to post!

Keep Reading...Show less
Chalk drawing of scales weighing "good" and "bad" on a blackboard.
WP content

Being a good person does not depend on your religion or status in life, your race or skin color, political views or culture. It depends on how good you treat others.

We are all born to do something great. Whether that be to grow up and become a doctor and save the lives of thousands of people, run a marathon, win the Noble Peace Prize, or be the greatest mother or father for your own future children one day. Regardless, we are all born with a purpose. But in between birth and death lies a path that life paves for us; a path that we must fill with something that gives our lives meaning.

Keep Reading...Show less
Health and Wellness

10 Hygiene Tips For All College Athletes

College athletes, it's time we talk about sports hygiene.

27747
Woman doing pull-ups on bars with sun shining behind her.

I got a request to talk about college athletes hygiene so here it is.

College athletes, I get it, you are busy! From class, to morning workouts, to study table, to practice, and more. But that does not excuse the fact that your hygiene comes first! Here are some tips when it comes to taking care of your self.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments