Law, 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 influence our decisions at all. Some of the characters we studied show both sides of this question. Luther and Alice from the show Luther are on opposite sides of the spectrum while Billy Budd takes a hybrid approach. Immanuel Kant, a German philosopher considered an important figure in modern philosophy, developed the idea of ​​the "pathological object". This idea, compared 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 followed to the hilt, regardless of the situation. It is these principles that will lead a person to his goal. In contrast to the categorical imperative is the pathological object. The pathological object raises the question of whether we should actually live according to a certain categorical imperative or perhaps our life and decisions should be based on emotion. This is the pathological object; decisions should be made based on an ever-evolving understanding and emotional feeling. This contrast can be seen in the interaction between Luther and Alice. Luther, more often than not, allows his emotions to pave the way and guide him in his decisions. It is his emotions that drag him into the investigation of the serial killer and vigilante Marwood. His emotions are also what guide him in his love life. Another example where Luther is driven by his emotions is in the gripping opening episode. Madsen, a suspect Luther is hunting, is hanging from a ledge by… paper… he could have modeled them and been a precursor to their actions as an adult. This makes a lot of sense according to Lacan since a child's conception of society is formed soon after his birth. It would be interesting to see how these three characters grow and whether they actually match their subsequent actions. Even if they do not correspond, there may be exceptions to Lacan's theory. He doesn't necessarily deny 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 sometimes falter off that path. Works Cited Croce, 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 University, 1948. Print.