The universal force is a Jedi philosophy about on the Force. It divides the force into two parts: the light side and the dark side.

The Dark Side of the Force believed by the Jedi to be a corrupted state of the force, and encompasses anger, rage, hatred, fear, aggression and passion. Such emotions seem to increase the strength and abilities of a user of the dark side, providing a path towards personal power and the destruction or control of all opposition. In the philosophy of the universal force, it is generally accepted that use of the dark side of the Force is extremely addictive. The dark side is opposed by the Light Side.

The Light Side of the Force believed by the Jedi to be the natural state of the force, and encompasses honesty, compassion, mercy, self-sacrifice and other positive emotions. Followers of the light side strife to live in harmony with the world around them, acting out of wisdom and logic rather than anger and hasty judgment. In order to achieve harmony with the light side of the Force, its practitioners often meditate to clear themselves of emotion; particularly negative emotions such as aggression, fear, anger, and hatred, since these were thought to bring on acceptance of the dark side. The light side is opposed by the Dark Side.