The purpose of this paper is to provoke some thought about therelationship between «Law, Reason, and Emotion» (the theme of the 2015 IVR WorldCongress in Washington, DC). The author suggests that law, reason and emotion areinextricably intertwined and in fact the central values of any effective system of justice.The foundational axiom posited for rational justice is that every human being has valueand that all deserve support and encouragement in living worthwhile and fulfilling liveswith other human beings. The best legislation and the most interesting and persuasivephilosophy and interpretation of the law will take our natural human emotions intoaccount, as they relate to the possibility of a good life and the rules of a just society.Emotions should be cultivated or not according to their value and likely effects, in thelight of reason and justice. We cannot and should not deny the law claim to reason, butemotions remain the first and final basis of justice and ultimate foundation of the law.