Law and Emotion and Lacan
Should we let our emotions control us? Should we base our decisions on how we are feeling at a specific time? Perhaps emotion shouldn’t factor at all into our decisions. Some of the characters we have studied exhibit both sides of this question. Luther and Alice from the show Luther fall on opposite sides of the spectrum while Billy Budd takes a hybrid approach.
Immanuel Kant, a German philosopher who is considered to be a major figure of modern philosophy, developed the idea of the “pathological object.” This idea, when put up against the “categorical imperative,” is what can lead a person to make a certain decision. The categorical imperative states that one must live his life by a set of moral principles. These principles must be followed through and through, 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 as to whether we should in fact live by a certain categorical imperative or maybe our life and decisions should be based on emotion. This is the pathological object; decisions should be made based on an always evolving understanding and emotional feeling.
This contrast can be seen in the interplay between Luther and Alice. Luther, more often than not, allows his emotions to pave the way for him and lead him in his decisions. It is his emotions that carry him along in his investigation of the serial killer and vigilante Marwood. His emotions are also what lead him in his love life. Another example where Luther is led by his emotions is in the gripping opening episode. Madsen, a suspect that Luther is chasing, is hanging on a ledge for ...
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...ould have shaped them and been a precursor to their actions as an adult. This makes a lot of sense according to Lacan as a child’s conception of society is formed shortly after he born.
It would be interesting to see the upbringing of these three characters and if in fact, they correspond to their later actions. Even if they don’t correspond, there can be exceptions to Lacan’s theory. It doesn’t necessarily disprove it.
Emotion is power. Being emotional can sometimes be paralyzing. We have seen how different characters make decisions, what they are based on, and if they sometimes falter off 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.
Everyone has different points of views, feelings, reactions, and etcetera. People handle things in different ways. I read the story “Field Trip” by Tim O’brien. The story has emotions, but yet it’s still very settle.
Take for example giving a performance report for a subpar employee. Do you give that person a stellar performance report because you like them as a person? Or are you up front with them and tell them their performance is lacking and needs to improve? To follow the Categorical Imperative, you give them the poor report because it is the right thing to do to help that person succeed in the future. It explores the idea that an act or a decision can still be morally good as it follows the guiding rules of the universe, even if that act does not produce maximized good (Barlaup, 2009).
In the essay titled “Foundations of the Metaphysics of Morals” published in the Morality and Moral Controversies course textbook, Immanuel Kant argues that the view of the world and its laws is structured by human concepts and categories, and the rationale of it is the source of morality which depends upon belief in the existence of God. In Kant’s work, categorical imperative was established in order to have a standard rationale from where all moral requirements derive. Therefore, categorical imperative is an obligation to act morally, out of duty and good will alone. In Immanuel Kant’s writing human reason and or rational are innate morals which are responsible for helping human. Needless to say, this also allows people to be able to distinct right from wrong. For the aforementioned reasons, there is no doubt that any action has to be executed solely out of a duty alone and it should not focus on the consequence but on the motive and intent of the action. Kant supports his argument by dividing the essay into three sections. In the first section he calls attention to common sense mor...
Categorical imperatives are the basis of morality because they provoke pure reasons for every human beings actions. By the end of his work, one will understand Kant’s beliefs on morality, but to explain this, he goes into depth on the difference between hypothetical imperatives and Categorical Imperative, two different formulations of the Categorical Imperative, and a few examples. According to Kant, there are two types on imperatives, categorical imperatives and hypothetical imperatives. The Categorical Imperative is based on relation and not by means, which hypothetical imperatives are based on.
Kant argued that the Categorical Imperative (CI) was the test for morally permissible actions. The CI states: I must act in such a way that I can will that my maxim should become a universal law. Maxims which fail to pass the CI do so because they lead to a contradiction or impossibility. Kant believes this imperative stems from the rationality of the will itself, and thus it is necessary regardless of the particular ends of an individual; the CI is an innate constituent of being a rational individual. As a result, failure ...
Immanuel Kant is a popular modern day philosopher. He was a modest and humble man of his time. He never left his hometown, never married and never strayed from his schedule. Kant may come off as boring, while he was an introvert but he had a great amount to offer. His thoughts and concepts from the 1700s are still observed today. His most recognized work is from the Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals. Here Kant expresses his idea of ‘The Good Will’ and the ‘Categorical Imperative’.
Emotions pilot our identity and destiny; the author Wayne Grady has captured a mosaic of point of views in the novel through intertwining characters and their relationships revolving around the main character Jackson. The author Wayne Grady conveys the growth of Jackson in the novel Emancipation Day through the exploration of the theme, Emotion as weakness. This is demonstrated through Williams negative emotions being poured upon Jackson leading both to take unnecessary measures, Jackson leaving his family behind to create a new identity due to the negative emotions associated his past, and his relationship with Vivian that is full of holes and misunderstandings. Emotions are strong and can sway a person back and forth and have a heavy influence upon their decisions; emotions ultimately lead people to take certain moves and actions that further define their identity.
Immanuel Kant was an eighteenth century philosopher whose ideas redefined philosophical views of morality and justice, and provided a base for modern philosophers to argue these ideas. In Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals, he argues against Hume’s idea of utilitarianism. Kant also explores the idea of freedom, free action, moral action, and how to determine if our actions are moral by use of the categorical imperative.
Kant’s categorical imperative can provide a set of rules to formulate what a good person is and should do. Kantian philosophy is deontological and it requires people to always do their duty. Kant does not forbid feeling good or happiness, but it must be the case that each person can fulfill their duty even if they did not enjoy doing it. In summary, in order to determine whether or not a particular act is good or bad, morally speaking, we must apply the categorical imperative and I have provide justifications to use it in our daily day lives.
A strong emotion usually exists when a baby separates from their mother due to their separation anxiety. Emotion influences our behavior and seems to control our actions every moment. A Worn Path and Harrison Bergeron have similarities using emotion as the stimulatory factor to convey both story and develop the characters. Emotions by oneself or the society either help or destroy a person’s well-being by contributing to the choices they made.
Emotions are frequent companions in our lives. They come and go, and constantly change like the weather. They generate powerful chemicals that create positive and negative feelings, which have a powerful effect on leadership. Some emotions can either facilitate leadership, while others can detract from successful leadership. This course, Emotionally Intelligent Leadership, has truly opened my eyes to the affects that emotions have on being an effective leader. Peter Salovey and John Mayer defined emotional intelligence as “the ability to monitor one’s own and other’s feelings and emotions to use the information to guide one’s thinking and actions” (p. 5). This definition in itself states that emotions, whether it be ones own emotions or those of others, is the underlying factor that directs the actions of a leader. Therefore, throughout the progression (advancement) of this course, I have learned the importance of the development of emotional intelligence for being an effective leader, and because of this I plan on developing the capacities that contribute to being an emotionally intelligent leader for my own success, now and in the future.
Emotions are a significant part of our daily lives. They control everything from stress eating to confronting a friend. Emotions can also impact decision making abilities in varying degrees depending on your relation to the topic or situation at hand. However if emotions run every aspect and decision in your life, it is harder to remain objective and calm in certain situations. A balance of both emotion based decision making as well as unbiased/objective or fact based decision making is necessary to make decisions to better your personal life, or perhaps your company, work life, relationships, etc.
In conclusion, Kant’s three formulations of the categorical imperative are great examples of how we should live our lives. Along with living our lives by the formulations of the categorical imperative, we should also treat every rational being as an end in itself. It is quite obvious that Kant’s theories are still in existence today.
Kant's Categorical Imperative Deontology is the ethical view that some actions are morally forbidden or permitted, regardless of consequences. One of the most influential deontological philosophers in history is Immanuel Kant, who developed the idea of the Categorical Imperative. Kant believed that the only thing of intrinsic moral worth is good will. Kant says in his work Morality and Rationality “ The good will is not good because of what it affects or accomplishes or because of it’s adequacy to achieve some proposed end; it is good only because of it’s willingness, i.e., it is good of itself”.
Rosen, L. D., Cheever, N. A., Cummings, C., & Felt, J. (2008). The impact of emotionality and