darklordoftech said:

DuracellEnergizer said said:

I've come to see Palpatine as a complete nihilist who believes that that the dark side is an all-consuming chaos which will eventually destroy everything in existence.

Are you implying that Palpatine wants to destroy everything in existence? If so, why does he want to destroy everything in existence?

No. I see Palpatine as someone who is so afraid of annihilation that he is willing to do the one thing he believes can save him from it -- embracing the dark side so fully that he eventually merges with the dark side itself, preserving himself through it. Everything else in existence -- the Jedi, the Sith, the Empire, the Rebellion, etc. -- are either tools to be used in his quest for ascension or obstacles to removed from his path.