Abstract

In The Phenomenology of Spirit, Hegel discusses how human beings have come to know things, including themselves. The Phenomenology of Spirit serves as an introduction to Hegel's philosophical system, which continues with logic, philosophy of nature, and ethical and political philosophy. Hegel tries to work out how our knowledge of particular things and the relations between them presupposes what he calls “force.” For Hegel, understanding force is like catching a thread or stumbling upon a road to what he calls “Absolute Knowledge,” the understanding of Geist. Unlike gravity, in Star Wars the Force's influence is apparent in relations between living creatures. Stephen Houlgate's poignant interpretation of Hegel's Geist is useful for a social interpretation of the Force in Star Wars. Hegel's philosophy has brought us closer to Yoda, who has a deep understanding of reality thanks to his extensive knowledge of the Force and how it binds everything and everyone together.