Law and emotion and Lacan Should we let our emotions control us? Should we base our decisions on how we feel at a specific moment? Maybe emotion shouldn't factor into our decisions at all. Some of the characters we studied present both sides of this question. Luther and Alice from the Luther series are on opposite sides of the spectrum while Billy Budd takes a hybrid approach. Immanuel Kant, a German philosopher considered a major figure in modern philosophy, developed the idea of ​​the “pathological object.” This idea, confronted with the “categorical imperative”, is what can lead a person to make a certain decision. The categorical imperative states that one must live one's life according to a set of moral principles. These principles must be respected to the end, whatever the situation. It is these principles that will lead a person to their goal. Contrary to the categorical imperative is the pathological object. The pathological object raises the question of whether we should in fact live according to some categorical imperative or whether our lives and decisions should be based on emotion. It is the pathological object; decisions must be made based on ever-changing understanding and emotional feeling. This contrast can be seen in the interaction between Luther and Alice. Luther, more often than not, lets his emotions pave the way and guide him in his decisions. It is his emotions that lead him into his investigation of the serial killer and vigilante Marwood. His emotions are also what guides him in his love life. Another example of Luther being driven by his emotions is found in the gripping opening episode. Madsen, a suspect Luther is pursuing, hangs on a ledge for... middle of paper... that could have shaped them and been a precursor to their actions as adults. This makes a lot of sense according to Lacan since the child's conception of society is formed shortly after his birth. It would be interesting to see the upbringing of these three characters and if in fact they match their later actions. Even if they don't match, there can be exceptions to Lacan's theory. This doesn't necessarily disprove it. Emotion is power. Being emotional can sometimes be paralyzing. We've seen how different characters make decisions, what they're based on, and whether they ever deviate from that path. Works Cited Cross, Neil. Luther. BBC. London, England. Television. “Introduction to Jacques Lacan, Module on psychosexual development.” Purdue. Web. Melville, Herman and Frederic Barron Freeman. Billy Budd. Cambridge: Harvard Univ., 1948. Print.