Menzoberranzan is the primary setting of R.A. Salvatore's Homeland in the Dark Elf trilogy and home of the evil race of dark elves known as drow. Plato's Republic features characters at a feast discussing the topic of justice. Glaucon, one of the conversation partners, decides to play devil's advocate, putting forth the idea that justice is one of those pesky things we have to deal with to live in a peaceful society, arguing that if there were a way around it, (...) no one would be just or moral. The trouble with flat‐out calling Menzoberranzan the most unjust state imaginable is that it has some qualities befitting a just state. In addition to justice, Socrates calls for the ideal state and its citizens to embody the virtues of temperance, wisdom, and courage. (shrink)

The Jedi are “keepers of the peace.” Just as they protect the galaxy, Jedi are called upon to keep the peace within themselves by aligning their wills to the Force. This requires self‐restraint, abstinence from worldly pleasures, a virtue‐driven mindset, incorruptible fearlessness, and total belief in following the will of the Force. The principles of the Jedi Order closely mirror the “hard life” maxims of a school of philosophy known as Stoicism, represented by the slave‐turned‐philosopher Epictetus. For both Jedi and (...) Stoics, philosophy is a way of life, not just a subject for study. A central claim of Stoic ethics is that only virtues and virtuous activities are good, and only vices and vicious actions are evil. A Jedi's strength of mind has greater value than the ability to execute a Force push. The ultimate goal for Jedi is to decipher the will of the Force and conduct themselves accordingly. (shrink)