Comments on: Which adjective best describes Inspector Javert?

Question: Which adjective best describes Inspector Javert?

Kraftmatic Adjustable Cheese — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 19:47:04 -0800

Is there an adjective to describe a person who believes in absolute obedience to the law, as personified by Inspector Javert in "Les Miserables"?

By: Pater Aletheias

Pater Aletheias — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 19:49:44 -0800

Yes: legalist.

Actually, that's a noun. Legalistic is the adjective.

By: Kraftmatic Adjustable Cheese

Kraftmatic Adjustable Cheese — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 19:55:01 -0800

That was quick. Thank you, Father.

By: tdischino

tdischino — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 20:43:25 -0800

I always thought Martinet was the epitome of this.

By: fvox13

fvox13 — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 21:01:30 -0800

On a related note, Deontology describes someone who believes in absolute obedience to religion and authority.

By: secret.osha

secret.osha — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 21:16:39 -0800

Could also try "doctrinaire," someone who clings to doctrines or theories without regard to their practicality.

By: rbs

rbs — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 21:17:14 -0800

We always call them deutschbags, cause Germans seem to like regimentation. But that's probably more of a local usage than you want.

By: artlung

artlung — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 21:29:28 -0800

the emphasis on the "legal" part of this is interesting. but i think "inflexible" and "hidebound" are two other words emphasizing the unchanging nature of his obedience to the law.

By: ontic

ontic — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 21:31:34 -0800

Actually, fvox13, deontology is not absolute obedience to religion and authority, and Wikipedia doesn't say this. In fact, for Kant (said to be the prototypical deontologist, although I have my bone to pick with this view), following authority or religion cannot be a source of morality. Morality for a Kantian deontologist comes from one's own pure practical reason.

By: PenDevil

PenDevil — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 23:05:37 -0800

Dogmatic?

By: breath

breath — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 23:23:40 -0800

Lawful neutral.

If you like D&D, that is.

By: jaysus chris

jaysus chris — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 05:17:34 -0800

I was going to say that, breath...

By: CunningLinguist

CunningLinguist — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 05:39:23 -0800

Another vote for martinet. It's a more common term I believe - I've never heard anyone described as a "legalist."

By: Science!

Science! — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 07:18:38 -0800

If you're also looking to describe total obedience to a government or state and not just to the 'law of the land' I quite like the term "True Believer" as personified by The Operative in Serenity.

By: Mocata

Mocata — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 08:01:25 -0800

Er, authoritarian? I've only seen legalistic used to mean lawyer-obsessed, as in a recent issue of the Economist that called the US 'the most legalistic society on earth' or something.

By: afu

afu — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 11:11:06 -0800

Micota - legalist and legalistic are different words.

Legalist sounds good, though it has a slightly different meaning in the Chinese tradition.

By: Pater Aletheias

Pater Aletheias — Sat, 16 Dec 2006 12:55:45 -0800

I've never heard anyone described as a "legalist."

If I had a dollar for everytime I had heard someone called a legalist, I'd have...well, a bunch of dollars. No car payments, for sure. But my domain is primarily church and seminary folk, who use the term to describe people who believe that strict adherence to some Biblical code of conduct or church polity is essential if one is to be saved. I think it fits Javert well because he is clearly religiously motivated (at least in the musical; I'm not so familiar with the book), and there is a clear theme of grace versus works in the story, which is why the character and actions of the bishop are so important. He believes that redemption is possible even for law-breakers. He honors God through his mercy. Javert tries to honor God through rigorous devotion to law and punishment for violators, who cannot be redeemed, only punished.

Okay, that's long, but the point is, you call Javert a legalist around my associates, and there'll be no doubt what you mean. Although martinet might be fine, too.