There's a nontrivially-sized literature on this that I've got to get into, it seems; I'm reading a recent article arguing against traditional scientific, objective views of emotions– i.e., attempts to train computers to read emotional states– and arguing instead for a view of emotions as culturally produced. I feel a bit like George Patton's line about how if he found himself between the Wehrmacht and Red Army, he'd attack in both directions.

Not exactly sure what it is that I find problematic about both of these schools– obviously it's different things in each– but am reviewing some of the work of Paul Eckman and my man Robert Burton to refresh my memory on the literature. (Eckman's also got some work on Buddhism, mindfulness and emotions that I clearly have to read.)