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In The Phantom Menace alone, Qui-Gon (and in part Obi-Wan) are quick to use Jedi mind tricks and not only gamble but also cheat at it. They seem happy with this fact.

Do Jedi have morals and ethics, or a code of honor?

Kevin
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AncientSwordRage
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2 Answers2

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Yes, Jedi Code.

As far as Qui-Gon, they were doing what their mission was requiring. They are Jedi, not Boy Scouts (nor Samurai for that matter, never mind extensive Kurosawa-stealing :)

Remember, Jedi are basically more-or-less hereditary aristocrats. They don't mind lying/cheating/stealing for the Greater Good - they are just extra meticulous about being honest when it's greater good or not (e.g. they aren't going to justify cheating as "for the greater good" when it's to make the Jedi some personal satisfaction/benefit).

To be more specific, "Practice Honesty" was one of the points in Jedi Code:

"Let there be truth between your heart and the Force. All else is transitory." ― Surenit Kil'qiy

Honesty was the first responsibility that aspiring Jedi were taught. Jedi were permitted to stretch the truth if the situation required it of them, however this was to be done as sparingly as possible. An honest Jedi was always truthful with himself, his Master, and the Council. (src: Power of the Jedi Sourcebook, via Wikia)

Interestingly enough, no explicit requirement to be honest with Watto the slave owner :)

As far as Watto specifically, the guy "had it coming" from a Star Wars protagonist point of view. He was a bloody slave owner! If it's OK to kill a bunch of slavers (Rebellion did that all over the place, see Han Solo trilogy as example), cheating one at a sporting event is a minor thing. To a Jedi, slavery is a Major Bad Juju.

As far as out-of-Universe, Lucas was creating Space Westerns. Blondie lied. Didn't stop him from being The Good :)

Community
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DVK-on-Ahch-To
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  • Space westerns you say? It all makes sense now.... – AncientSwordRage Mar 01 '12 at 07:10
  • Commenting on a really old answer, so feel free to ignore, but what makes the Jedi "basically hereditary aristocrats"? – Shisa Sep 30 '14 at 17:21
  • @Shisa - I think that that's a very poor characterisation of Jedi society. Their order is definitely meritocratic, not aristocratic. – Valorum Sep 30 '14 at 18:00
  • @Richard - Anakin Skywalker. Luke Skywalker/Leia. Ben Skywalker/Jacen Solo. Then we have Horns. Then we have Krayt and his father. – DVK-on-Ahch-To Sep 30 '14 at 18:26
  • @DVK - In the new Republic (where Jedis are freely allowed to breed), there's far more chance of a force-artistocracy. In the old republic, a swamp lizard has just as much chance of being a leader as the inheritor of an interplanetary fortune – Valorum Sep 30 '14 at 18:29
  • @DVK Thanks for explaining. I was thinking in terms of prequel-era Jedi Order, not the NJO, thanks to the TPM bent of the question, hence my surprise at that description. :) Anyway, is the particular bit in your answer quoted from the Power of the Jedi Sourcebook, era independent? – Shisa Oct 01 '14 at 03:43
  • @Richard - Don't they knight completely random Yahoos in Great Britain? – DVK-on-Ahch-To Oct 01 '14 at 11:00
  • @dvk - Random, no. Yahoos, sadly yes. Getting an honour from the queen is usually subject to a fairly extensive screening by the govt. – Valorum Oct 01 '14 at 11:30
  • @Richard - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/10921184/Karate-expert-warned-MBE-could-be-stripped-if-qualifications-dont-add-up.html – DVK-on-Ahch-To Oct 01 '14 at 14:03
  • @Richard - http://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/scott-disick-becomes-british-royalty-gets-knighted-in-london-2012167 – DVK-on-Ahch-To Oct 01 '14 at 14:05
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    @dvk - Internet titles mean nothing. Anyone can become a "laird" for a few quid but it's a meaningless pseudo -title. He's not even eligible to use it in most of the UK ☺ – Valorum Oct 01 '14 at 14:34
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Specifically focusing on the ability of the Jedi to alter the minds of others, the main principle is that this power (as with all Jedi powers) should only be used sparingly, with discipline and only for the accomplishment of the greater good.

The officially licensed "The Jedi Path: A Manual for Students of the Force" offers this advice to potential Jedi knights:

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The "Jedi vs. Sith: The Essential Guide to the Force" also offers this advice (edited for brevity and clarity)

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Valorum
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