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

The name of the pictureThe name of the pictureThe name of the pictureClash Royale CLAN TAG#URR8PPP












33















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



















  • 75





    Difficult to see. Always in motion is the future.

    – Jack
    Jan 15 at 4:14






  • 4





    Not very well. ;)

    – Adamant
    Jan 15 at 4:39






  • 7





    Out of order? Even in the future nothing works.

    – Mazura
    Jan 15 at 11:23











  • @Mazura you left a word out :D

    – Jared Smith
    Jan 15 at 14:51















33















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



















  • 75





    Difficult to see. Always in motion is the future.

    – Jack
    Jan 15 at 4:14






  • 4





    Not very well. ;)

    – Adamant
    Jan 15 at 4:39






  • 7





    Out of order? Even in the future nothing works.

    – Mazura
    Jan 15 at 11:23











  • @Mazura you left a word out :D

    – Jared Smith
    Jan 15 at 14:51













33












33








33


2






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






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited Jan 15 at 4:40







Robert Columbia

















asked Jan 15 at 4:02









Robert ColumbiaRobert Columbia

5,00762768




5,00762768







  • 75





    Difficult to see. Always in motion is the future.

    – Jack
    Jan 15 at 4:14






  • 4





    Not very well. ;)

    – Adamant
    Jan 15 at 4:39






  • 7





    Out of order? Even in the future nothing works.

    – Mazura
    Jan 15 at 11:23











  • @Mazura you left a word out :D

    – Jared Smith
    Jan 15 at 14:51












  • 75





    Difficult to see. Always in motion is the future.

    – Jack
    Jan 15 at 4:14






  • 4





    Not very well. ;)

    – Adamant
    Jan 15 at 4:39






  • 7





    Out of order? Even in the future nothing works.

    – Mazura
    Jan 15 at 11:23











  • @Mazura you left a word out :D

    – Jared Smith
    Jan 15 at 14:51







75




75





Difficult to see. Always in motion is the future.

– Jack
Jan 15 at 4:14





Difficult to see. Always in motion is the future.

– Jack
Jan 15 at 4:14




4




4





Not very well. ;)

– Adamant
Jan 15 at 4:39





Not very well. ;)

– Adamant
Jan 15 at 4:39




7




7





Out of order? Even in the future nothing works.

– Mazura
Jan 15 at 11:23





Out of order? Even in the future nothing works.

– Mazura
Jan 15 at 11:23













@Mazura you left a word out :D

– Jared Smith
Jan 15 at 14:51





@Mazura you left a word out :D

– Jared Smith
Jan 15 at 14:51










2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes


















47














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


















  • 1





    I didn't know yet that Vader said "my son" before the big reveal. Interesting. Maybe an observant watcher could even figure it out before the reveal.

    – Fabian Röling
    Jan 15 at 7:35






  • 28





    @FabianRöling that quote is from Episode 6, which was after the reveal.

    – JAD
    Jan 15 at 7:38






  • 3





    @JAD Apparently I'm a Star Wars noob, because I remember Vader revealing himself in the finale, then shortly afterwards sacrificing himself to kill the emperor, having his last words and then the death star blows up and people celebrate. Maybe it's part of the same Mandela effect as "Luke, I am your father".

    – Fabian Röling
    Jan 15 at 7:43






  • 6





    The future in being in motion is not necessarily a counter to conclusively knowing a future event will take place. If we're playing chess and I tell you "mate in 3", that means I know you will lose to checkmate in 3 or less turns. That doesn't mean I know which pieces you're going to move, and thus the future is still in motion, but I know that the mate is inevitable.

    – Flater
    Jan 15 at 7:47







  • 2





    @FabianRöling lucky you - there's a whole weekend coming soon, and it seems you already got a plan for it :)

    – mgarciaisaia
    Jan 15 at 17:04


















12















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?




Force Vision isn't quite that good. It gives you some future snapshot of something that will happen, but often no context of the surrounding events. So, for instance, we have this in ROTJ




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



EMPEROR (no surprise)Yes, I know.



VADER (after a beat) My son is with them.



EMPEROR (very cool) Are you sure?



VADER I have felt him, my Master.



EMPEROR Strange, that I have not. I wonder if your feelings on this matter are clear, Lord Vader.



Vader knows what is being asked.



VADER They are clear, my Master.



EMPEROR Then you must go to the Sanctuary Moon and wait for them.



VADER (skeptical) He will come to me?



EMPEROR I have foreseen it. His compassion for you will be his undoing. He will
come to you and then you will bring him before me.




So we have the Emperor missing that Luke went to Endor, but nailing that Vader should go there too, because Luke will surrender to him. We see something similar with Master Sifo-Dyas, who foresaw the need for a clone army, but not that it would be used by the Sith to help found the Empire.






share|improve this answer


















  • 6





    And, of-course, Palpatine might've been bluffing half of the time. Just that he has seen some parts of the future, doesn't mean he's able to do it at will all the times he'd want.

    – Mast
    Jan 15 at 18:54






  • 1





    Of course, in the real future (i.e. Legends), some Jedi learn to not only see the future but to fix it (flow-walking). Don't know who changed that future (i.e. to Canon). Maybe Leia did, since she and Han didn't want to stick around.

    – user21820
    Jan 16 at 12:06










Your Answer








StackExchange.ready(function()
var channelOptions =
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "186"
;
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);

StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function()
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled)
StackExchange.using("snippets", function()
createEditor();
);

else
createEditor();

);

function createEditor()
StackExchange.prepareEditor(
heartbeatType: 'answer',
autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
convertImagesToLinks: false,
noModals: true,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: null,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
imageUploader:
brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
allowUrls: true
,
noCode: true, onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
);



);













draft saved

draft discarded


















StackExchange.ready(
function ()
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fscifi.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f203432%2fto-what-extent-can-emperor-palpatine-actually-see-into-the-future%23new-answer', 'question_page');

);

Post as a guest















Required, but never shown

























2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes








2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes









active

oldest

votes






active

oldest

votes









47














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


















  • 1





    I didn't know yet that Vader said "my son" before the big reveal. Interesting. Maybe an observant watcher could even figure it out before the reveal.

    – Fabian Röling
    Jan 15 at 7:35






  • 28





    @FabianRöling that quote is from Episode 6, which was after the reveal.

    – JAD
    Jan 15 at 7:38






  • 3





    @JAD Apparently I'm a Star Wars noob, because I remember Vader revealing himself in the finale, then shortly afterwards sacrificing himself to kill the emperor, having his last words and then the death star blows up and people celebrate. Maybe it's part of the same Mandela effect as "Luke, I am your father".

    – Fabian Röling
    Jan 15 at 7:43






  • 6





    The future in being in motion is not necessarily a counter to conclusively knowing a future event will take place. If we're playing chess and I tell you "mate in 3", that means I know you will lose to checkmate in 3 or less turns. That doesn't mean I know which pieces you're going to move, and thus the future is still in motion, but I know that the mate is inevitable.

    – Flater
    Jan 15 at 7:47







  • 2





    @FabianRöling lucky you - there's a whole weekend coming soon, and it seems you already got a plan for it :)

    – mgarciaisaia
    Jan 15 at 17:04















47














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


















  • 1





    I didn't know yet that Vader said "my son" before the big reveal. Interesting. Maybe an observant watcher could even figure it out before the reveal.

    – Fabian Röling
    Jan 15 at 7:35






  • 28





    @FabianRöling that quote is from Episode 6, which was after the reveal.

    – JAD
    Jan 15 at 7:38






  • 3





    @JAD Apparently I'm a Star Wars noob, because I remember Vader revealing himself in the finale, then shortly afterwards sacrificing himself to kill the emperor, having his last words and then the death star blows up and people celebrate. Maybe it's part of the same Mandela effect as "Luke, I am your father".

    – Fabian Röling
    Jan 15 at 7:43






  • 6





    The future in being in motion is not necessarily a counter to conclusively knowing a future event will take place. If we're playing chess and I tell you "mate in 3", that means I know you will lose to checkmate in 3 or less turns. That doesn't mean I know which pieces you're going to move, and thus the future is still in motion, but I know that the mate is inevitable.

    – Flater
    Jan 15 at 7:47







  • 2





    @FabianRöling lucky you - there's a whole weekend coming soon, and it seems you already got a plan for it :)

    – mgarciaisaia
    Jan 15 at 17:04













47












47








47







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 Jan 15 at 4:26









BuzzBuzz

36k6125197




36k6125197







  • 1





    I didn't know yet that Vader said "my son" before the big reveal. Interesting. Maybe an observant watcher could even figure it out before the reveal.

    – Fabian Röling
    Jan 15 at 7:35






  • 28





    @FabianRöling that quote is from Episode 6, which was after the reveal.

    – JAD
    Jan 15 at 7:38






  • 3





    @JAD Apparently I'm a Star Wars noob, because I remember Vader revealing himself in the finale, then shortly afterwards sacrificing himself to kill the emperor, having his last words and then the death star blows up and people celebrate. Maybe it's part of the same Mandela effect as "Luke, I am your father".

    – Fabian Röling
    Jan 15 at 7:43






  • 6





    The future in being in motion is not necessarily a counter to conclusively knowing a future event will take place. If we're playing chess and I tell you "mate in 3", that means I know you will lose to checkmate in 3 or less turns. That doesn't mean I know which pieces you're going to move, and thus the future is still in motion, but I know that the mate is inevitable.

    – Flater
    Jan 15 at 7:47







  • 2





    @FabianRöling lucky you - there's a whole weekend coming soon, and it seems you already got a plan for it :)

    – mgarciaisaia
    Jan 15 at 17:04












  • 1





    I didn't know yet that Vader said "my son" before the big reveal. Interesting. Maybe an observant watcher could even figure it out before the reveal.

    – Fabian Röling
    Jan 15 at 7:35






  • 28





    @FabianRöling that quote is from Episode 6, which was after the reveal.

    – JAD
    Jan 15 at 7:38






  • 3





    @JAD Apparently I'm a Star Wars noob, because I remember Vader revealing himself in the finale, then shortly afterwards sacrificing himself to kill the emperor, having his last words and then the death star blows up and people celebrate. Maybe it's part of the same Mandela effect as "Luke, I am your father".

    – Fabian Röling
    Jan 15 at 7:43






  • 6





    The future in being in motion is not necessarily a counter to conclusively knowing a future event will take place. If we're playing chess and I tell you "mate in 3", that means I know you will lose to checkmate in 3 or less turns. That doesn't mean I know which pieces you're going to move, and thus the future is still in motion, but I know that the mate is inevitable.

    – Flater
    Jan 15 at 7:47







  • 2





    @FabianRöling lucky you - there's a whole weekend coming soon, and it seems you already got a plan for it :)

    – mgarciaisaia
    Jan 15 at 17:04







1




1





I didn't know yet that Vader said "my son" before the big reveal. Interesting. Maybe an observant watcher could even figure it out before the reveal.

– Fabian Röling
Jan 15 at 7:35





I didn't know yet that Vader said "my son" before the big reveal. Interesting. Maybe an observant watcher could even figure it out before the reveal.

– Fabian Röling
Jan 15 at 7:35




28




28





@FabianRöling that quote is from Episode 6, which was after the reveal.

– JAD
Jan 15 at 7:38





@FabianRöling that quote is from Episode 6, which was after the reveal.

– JAD
Jan 15 at 7:38




3




3





@JAD Apparently I'm a Star Wars noob, because I remember Vader revealing himself in the finale, then shortly afterwards sacrificing himself to kill the emperor, having his last words and then the death star blows up and people celebrate. Maybe it's part of the same Mandela effect as "Luke, I am your father".

– Fabian Röling
Jan 15 at 7:43





@JAD Apparently I'm a Star Wars noob, because I remember Vader revealing himself in the finale, then shortly afterwards sacrificing himself to kill the emperor, having his last words and then the death star blows up and people celebrate. Maybe it's part of the same Mandela effect as "Luke, I am your father".

– Fabian Röling
Jan 15 at 7:43




6




6





The future in being in motion is not necessarily a counter to conclusively knowing a future event will take place. If we're playing chess and I tell you "mate in 3", that means I know you will lose to checkmate in 3 or less turns. That doesn't mean I know which pieces you're going to move, and thus the future is still in motion, but I know that the mate is inevitable.

– Flater
Jan 15 at 7:47






The future in being in motion is not necessarily a counter to conclusively knowing a future event will take place. If we're playing chess and I tell you "mate in 3", that means I know you will lose to checkmate in 3 or less turns. That doesn't mean I know which pieces you're going to move, and thus the future is still in motion, but I know that the mate is inevitable.

– Flater
Jan 15 at 7:47





2




2





@FabianRöling lucky you - there's a whole weekend coming soon, and it seems you already got a plan for it :)

– mgarciaisaia
Jan 15 at 17:04





@FabianRöling lucky you - there's a whole weekend coming soon, and it seems you already got a plan for it :)

– mgarciaisaia
Jan 15 at 17:04













12















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?




Force Vision isn't quite that good. It gives you some future snapshot of something that will happen, but often no context of the surrounding events. So, for instance, we have this in ROTJ




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



EMPEROR (no surprise)Yes, I know.



VADER (after a beat) My son is with them.



EMPEROR (very cool) Are you sure?



VADER I have felt him, my Master.



EMPEROR Strange, that I have not. I wonder if your feelings on this matter are clear, Lord Vader.



Vader knows what is being asked.



VADER They are clear, my Master.



EMPEROR Then you must go to the Sanctuary Moon and wait for them.



VADER (skeptical) He will come to me?



EMPEROR I have foreseen it. His compassion for you will be his undoing. He will
come to you and then you will bring him before me.




So we have the Emperor missing that Luke went to Endor, but nailing that Vader should go there too, because Luke will surrender to him. We see something similar with Master Sifo-Dyas, who foresaw the need for a clone army, but not that it would be used by the Sith to help found the Empire.






share|improve this answer


















  • 6





    And, of-course, Palpatine might've been bluffing half of the time. Just that he has seen some parts of the future, doesn't mean he's able to do it at will all the times he'd want.

    – Mast
    Jan 15 at 18:54






  • 1





    Of course, in the real future (i.e. Legends), some Jedi learn to not only see the future but to fix it (flow-walking). Don't know who changed that future (i.e. to Canon). Maybe Leia did, since she and Han didn't want to stick around.

    – user21820
    Jan 16 at 12:06















12















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?




Force Vision isn't quite that good. It gives you some future snapshot of something that will happen, but often no context of the surrounding events. So, for instance, we have this in ROTJ




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



EMPEROR (no surprise)Yes, I know.



VADER (after a beat) My son is with them.



EMPEROR (very cool) Are you sure?



VADER I have felt him, my Master.



EMPEROR Strange, that I have not. I wonder if your feelings on this matter are clear, Lord Vader.



Vader knows what is being asked.



VADER They are clear, my Master.



EMPEROR Then you must go to the Sanctuary Moon and wait for them.



VADER (skeptical) He will come to me?



EMPEROR I have foreseen it. His compassion for you will be his undoing. He will
come to you and then you will bring him before me.




So we have the Emperor missing that Luke went to Endor, but nailing that Vader should go there too, because Luke will surrender to him. We see something similar with Master Sifo-Dyas, who foresaw the need for a clone army, but not that it would be used by the Sith to help found the Empire.






share|improve this answer


















  • 6





    And, of-course, Palpatine might've been bluffing half of the time. Just that he has seen some parts of the future, doesn't mean he's able to do it at will all the times he'd want.

    – Mast
    Jan 15 at 18:54






  • 1





    Of course, in the real future (i.e. Legends), some Jedi learn to not only see the future but to fix it (flow-walking). Don't know who changed that future (i.e. to Canon). Maybe Leia did, since she and Han didn't want to stick around.

    – user21820
    Jan 16 at 12:06













12












12








12








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?




Force Vision isn't quite that good. It gives you some future snapshot of something that will happen, but often no context of the surrounding events. So, for instance, we have this in ROTJ




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



EMPEROR (no surprise)Yes, I know.



VADER (after a beat) My son is with them.



EMPEROR (very cool) Are you sure?



VADER I have felt him, my Master.



EMPEROR Strange, that I have not. I wonder if your feelings on this matter are clear, Lord Vader.



Vader knows what is being asked.



VADER They are clear, my Master.



EMPEROR Then you must go to the Sanctuary Moon and wait for them.



VADER (skeptical) He will come to me?



EMPEROR I have foreseen it. His compassion for you will be his undoing. He will
come to you and then you will bring him before me.




So we have the Emperor missing that Luke went to Endor, but nailing that Vader should go there too, because Luke will surrender to him. We see something similar with Master Sifo-Dyas, who foresaw the need for a clone army, but not that it would be used by the Sith to help found the Empire.






share|improve this answer














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?




Force Vision isn't quite that good. It gives you some future snapshot of something that will happen, but often no context of the surrounding events. So, for instance, we have this in ROTJ




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



EMPEROR (no surprise)Yes, I know.



VADER (after a beat) My son is with them.



EMPEROR (very cool) Are you sure?



VADER I have felt him, my Master.



EMPEROR Strange, that I have not. I wonder if your feelings on this matter are clear, Lord Vader.



Vader knows what is being asked.



VADER They are clear, my Master.



EMPEROR Then you must go to the Sanctuary Moon and wait for them.



VADER (skeptical) He will come to me?



EMPEROR I have foreseen it. His compassion for you will be his undoing. He will
come to you and then you will bring him before me.




So we have the Emperor missing that Luke went to Endor, but nailing that Vader should go there too, because Luke will surrender to him. We see something similar with Master Sifo-Dyas, who foresaw the need for a clone army, but not that it would be used by the Sith to help found the Empire.







share|improve this answer












share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer










answered Jan 15 at 17:29









MachavityMachavity

24.8k575142




24.8k575142







  • 6





    And, of-course, Palpatine might've been bluffing half of the time. Just that he has seen some parts of the future, doesn't mean he's able to do it at will all the times he'd want.

    – Mast
    Jan 15 at 18:54






  • 1





    Of course, in the real future (i.e. Legends), some Jedi learn to not only see the future but to fix it (flow-walking). Don't know who changed that future (i.e. to Canon). Maybe Leia did, since she and Han didn't want to stick around.

    – user21820
    Jan 16 at 12:06












  • 6





    And, of-course, Palpatine might've been bluffing half of the time. Just that he has seen some parts of the future, doesn't mean he's able to do it at will all the times he'd want.

    – Mast
    Jan 15 at 18:54






  • 1





    Of course, in the real future (i.e. Legends), some Jedi learn to not only see the future but to fix it (flow-walking). Don't know who changed that future (i.e. to Canon). Maybe Leia did, since she and Han didn't want to stick around.

    – user21820
    Jan 16 at 12:06







6




6





And, of-course, Palpatine might've been bluffing half of the time. Just that he has seen some parts of the future, doesn't mean he's able to do it at will all the times he'd want.

– Mast
Jan 15 at 18:54





And, of-course, Palpatine might've been bluffing half of the time. Just that he has seen some parts of the future, doesn't mean he's able to do it at will all the times he'd want.

– Mast
Jan 15 at 18:54




1




1





Of course, in the real future (i.e. Legends), some Jedi learn to not only see the future but to fix it (flow-walking). Don't know who changed that future (i.e. to Canon). Maybe Leia did, since she and Han didn't want to stick around.

– user21820
Jan 16 at 12:06





Of course, in the real future (i.e. Legends), some Jedi learn to not only see the future but to fix it (flow-walking). Don't know who changed that future (i.e. to Canon). Maybe Leia did, since she and Han didn't want to stick around.

– user21820
Jan 16 at 12:06

















draft saved

draft discarded
















































Thanks for contributing an answer to Science Fiction & Fantasy Stack Exchange!


  • Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!

But avoid


  • Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.

  • Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.

To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.




draft saved


draft discarded














StackExchange.ready(
function ()
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fscifi.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f203432%2fto-what-extent-can-emperor-palpatine-actually-see-into-the-future%23new-answer', 'question_page');

);

Post as a guest















Required, but never shown





















































Required, but never shown














Required, but never shown












Required, but never shown







Required, but never shown

































Required, but never shown














Required, but never shown












Required, but never shown







Required, but never shown






Popular posts from this blog

How to check contact read email or not when send email to Individual?

Displaying single band from multi-band raster using QGIS

How many registers does an x86_64 CPU actually have?