To what extent can Emperor Palpatine actually see into the future?












4















In Star Wars, Episode VI, Luke surrenders to the Empire and is brought before the Emperor. The Emperor taunts Luke, telling him that he has specifically foreseen the doom of the Rebel Alliance. At one point in the film, he specifically says "Everything is proceeding as I have foreseen". Of course, we find that not all of his "predictions" actually come true.



What is the actual extent of the Emperor's foreseeing/fortune telling power?




  • Does the Emperor actually see the future as it exists at the moment of his vision, but the future can later be changed by other plot events a la the morphing photographs in Back to the Future?

  • Is the Emperor actually unable to see into the future, but convinced that he is able to do so? In other words, his visions are bunk and come from some source other than the actual future, but he thinks they are really from the future and either is ignorant of or ignores any evidence to the contrary (i.e. he is "in denial")?

  • Is the Emperor fully aware of his inability to predict the future and simply lying to Luke in order to bluff him into giving up?










share|improve this question




















  • 5





    Difficult to see. Always in motion is the future.

    – Jack
    2 hours ago






  • 1





    Not very well. ;)

    – Adamant
    2 hours ago
















4















In Star Wars, Episode VI, Luke surrenders to the Empire and is brought before the Emperor. The Emperor taunts Luke, telling him that he has specifically foreseen the doom of the Rebel Alliance. At one point in the film, he specifically says "Everything is proceeding as I have foreseen". Of course, we find that not all of his "predictions" actually come true.



What is the actual extent of the Emperor's foreseeing/fortune telling power?




  • Does the Emperor actually see the future as it exists at the moment of his vision, but the future can later be changed by other plot events a la the morphing photographs in Back to the Future?

  • Is the Emperor actually unable to see into the future, but convinced that he is able to do so? In other words, his visions are bunk and come from some source other than the actual future, but he thinks they are really from the future and either is ignorant of or ignores any evidence to the contrary (i.e. he is "in denial")?

  • Is the Emperor fully aware of his inability to predict the future and simply lying to Luke in order to bluff him into giving up?










share|improve this question




















  • 5





    Difficult to see. Always in motion is the future.

    – Jack
    2 hours ago






  • 1





    Not very well. ;)

    – Adamant
    2 hours ago














4












4








4








In Star Wars, Episode VI, Luke surrenders to the Empire and is brought before the Emperor. The Emperor taunts Luke, telling him that he has specifically foreseen the doom of the Rebel Alliance. At one point in the film, he specifically says "Everything is proceeding as I have foreseen". Of course, we find that not all of his "predictions" actually come true.



What is the actual extent of the Emperor's foreseeing/fortune telling power?




  • Does the Emperor actually see the future as it exists at the moment of his vision, but the future can later be changed by other plot events a la the morphing photographs in Back to the Future?

  • Is the Emperor actually unable to see into the future, but convinced that he is able to do so? In other words, his visions are bunk and come from some source other than the actual future, but he thinks they are really from the future and either is ignorant of or ignores any evidence to the contrary (i.e. he is "in denial")?

  • Is the Emperor fully aware of his inability to predict the future and simply lying to Luke in order to bluff him into giving up?










share|improve this question
















In Star Wars, Episode VI, Luke surrenders to the Empire and is brought before the Emperor. The Emperor taunts Luke, telling him that he has specifically foreseen the doom of the Rebel Alliance. At one point in the film, he specifically says "Everything is proceeding as I have foreseen". Of course, we find that not all of his "predictions" actually come true.



What is the actual extent of the Emperor's foreseeing/fortune telling power?




  • Does the Emperor actually see the future as it exists at the moment of his vision, but the future can later be changed by other plot events a la the morphing photographs in Back to the Future?

  • Is the Emperor actually unable to see into the future, but convinced that he is able to do so? In other words, his visions are bunk and come from some source other than the actual future, but he thinks they are really from the future and either is ignorant of or ignores any evidence to the contrary (i.e. he is "in denial")?

  • Is the Emperor fully aware of his inability to predict the future and simply lying to Luke in order to bluff him into giving up?







star-wars the-force sith darth-sidious return-of-the-jedi






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share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited 2 hours ago







Robert Columbia

















asked 2 hours ago









Robert ColumbiaRobert Columbia

4,73062364




4,73062364








  • 5





    Difficult to see. Always in motion is the future.

    – Jack
    2 hours ago






  • 1





    Not very well. ;)

    – Adamant
    2 hours ago














  • 5





    Difficult to see. Always in motion is the future.

    – Jack
    2 hours ago






  • 1





    Not very well. ;)

    – Adamant
    2 hours ago








5




5





Difficult to see. Always in motion is the future.

– Jack
2 hours ago





Difficult to see. Always in motion is the future.

– Jack
2 hours ago




1




1





Not very well. ;)

– Adamant
2 hours ago





Not very well. ;)

– Adamant
2 hours ago










1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes


















4














What the Emperor tells Luke is actually:




Everything that has transpired has done so according to my design.




The difference may seem irrelevant (especially since the Emperor does tell Vader, earlier in the movie, "Everything is proceeding as I have foreseen.") However, combined with other statements that the Emperor makes, what he says to Luke strongly suggests that much of what the Emperor knows is not based primarily on his ability with the Force, but rather on conventional intelligence and planning.



"According to my design" indicates that what is occurring on the Sanctuary Moon is the product is the Emperor's plan. ("Your friends... are walking into a trap, as is your rebel fleet.") Moreover, there is specific evidence that the Emperor has not accurately sensed the situation on Endor through the force:




VADER: A small Rebel force has penetrated the shield and landed on Endor.



EMPEROR: Yes, I know.



VADER: My son is with them.



EMPEROR: Are you sure?



VADER: I have felt him, my Master.



EMPEROR: Strange, that I have not.




Of course, the Emperor presumably does have some precognitive ability. However, we know that the future can be changed by individuals' actions, and that definite determinations are practically impossible. I will leave Yoda with the last word, from The Empire Strikes Back:




Through the Force, things you will see. Other places. The future. The past. Old friends long gone.



...



Difficult to see. Always in motion is the future.







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    1 Answer
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    4














    What the Emperor tells Luke is actually:




    Everything that has transpired has done so according to my design.




    The difference may seem irrelevant (especially since the Emperor does tell Vader, earlier in the movie, "Everything is proceeding as I have foreseen.") However, combined with other statements that the Emperor makes, what he says to Luke strongly suggests that much of what the Emperor knows is not based primarily on his ability with the Force, but rather on conventional intelligence and planning.



    "According to my design" indicates that what is occurring on the Sanctuary Moon is the product is the Emperor's plan. ("Your friends... are walking into a trap, as is your rebel fleet.") Moreover, there is specific evidence that the Emperor has not accurately sensed the situation on Endor through the force:




    VADER: A small Rebel force has penetrated the shield and landed on Endor.



    EMPEROR: Yes, I know.



    VADER: My son is with them.



    EMPEROR: Are you sure?



    VADER: I have felt him, my Master.



    EMPEROR: Strange, that I have not.




    Of course, the Emperor presumably does have some precognitive ability. However, we know that the future can be changed by individuals' actions, and that definite determinations are practically impossible. I will leave Yoda with the last word, from The Empire Strikes Back:




    Through the Force, things you will see. Other places. The future. The past. Old friends long gone.



    ...



    Difficult to see. Always in motion is the future.







    share|improve this answer




























      4














      What the Emperor tells Luke is actually:




      Everything that has transpired has done so according to my design.




      The difference may seem irrelevant (especially since the Emperor does tell Vader, earlier in the movie, "Everything is proceeding as I have foreseen.") However, combined with other statements that the Emperor makes, what he says to Luke strongly suggests that much of what the Emperor knows is not based primarily on his ability with the Force, but rather on conventional intelligence and planning.



      "According to my design" indicates that what is occurring on the Sanctuary Moon is the product is the Emperor's plan. ("Your friends... are walking into a trap, as is your rebel fleet.") Moreover, there is specific evidence that the Emperor has not accurately sensed the situation on Endor through the force:




      VADER: A small Rebel force has penetrated the shield and landed on Endor.



      EMPEROR: Yes, I know.



      VADER: My son is with them.



      EMPEROR: Are you sure?



      VADER: I have felt him, my Master.



      EMPEROR: Strange, that I have not.




      Of course, the Emperor presumably does have some precognitive ability. However, we know that the future can be changed by individuals' actions, and that definite determinations are practically impossible. I will leave Yoda with the last word, from The Empire Strikes Back:




      Through the Force, things you will see. Other places. The future. The past. Old friends long gone.



      ...



      Difficult to see. Always in motion is the future.







      share|improve this answer


























        4












        4








        4







        What the Emperor tells Luke is actually:




        Everything that has transpired has done so according to my design.




        The difference may seem irrelevant (especially since the Emperor does tell Vader, earlier in the movie, "Everything is proceeding as I have foreseen.") However, combined with other statements that the Emperor makes, what he says to Luke strongly suggests that much of what the Emperor knows is not based primarily on his ability with the Force, but rather on conventional intelligence and planning.



        "According to my design" indicates that what is occurring on the Sanctuary Moon is the product is the Emperor's plan. ("Your friends... are walking into a trap, as is your rebel fleet.") Moreover, there is specific evidence that the Emperor has not accurately sensed the situation on Endor through the force:




        VADER: A small Rebel force has penetrated the shield and landed on Endor.



        EMPEROR: Yes, I know.



        VADER: My son is with them.



        EMPEROR: Are you sure?



        VADER: I have felt him, my Master.



        EMPEROR: Strange, that I have not.




        Of course, the Emperor presumably does have some precognitive ability. However, we know that the future can be changed by individuals' actions, and that definite determinations are practically impossible. I will leave Yoda with the last word, from The Empire Strikes Back:




        Through the Force, things you will see. Other places. The future. The past. Old friends long gone.



        ...



        Difficult to see. Always in motion is the future.







        share|improve this answer













        What the Emperor tells Luke is actually:




        Everything that has transpired has done so according to my design.




        The difference may seem irrelevant (especially since the Emperor does tell Vader, earlier in the movie, "Everything is proceeding as I have foreseen.") However, combined with other statements that the Emperor makes, what he says to Luke strongly suggests that much of what the Emperor knows is not based primarily on his ability with the Force, but rather on conventional intelligence and planning.



        "According to my design" indicates that what is occurring on the Sanctuary Moon is the product is the Emperor's plan. ("Your friends... are walking into a trap, as is your rebel fleet.") Moreover, there is specific evidence that the Emperor has not accurately sensed the situation on Endor through the force:




        VADER: A small Rebel force has penetrated the shield and landed on Endor.



        EMPEROR: Yes, I know.



        VADER: My son is with them.



        EMPEROR: Are you sure?



        VADER: I have felt him, my Master.



        EMPEROR: Strange, that I have not.




        Of course, the Emperor presumably does have some precognitive ability. However, we know that the future can be changed by individuals' actions, and that definite determinations are practically impossible. I will leave Yoda with the last word, from The Empire Strikes Back:




        Through the Force, things you will see. Other places. The future. The past. Old friends long gone.



        ...



        Difficult to see. Always in motion is the future.








        share|improve this answer












        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer










        answered 2 hours ago









        BuzzBuzz

        35.3k6122194




        35.3k6122194






























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