This chapter argues that despite general agreement on a number of fundamental points regarding emotions, such as that certain measurable neurophysiological and biochemical changes are broadly correlated with emotions, considerable confusion still exists on questions such as what emotion is, and how it should be defined, whether or not there are certain basic emotions, and whether emotions should be viewed as distinct species or form a continuum. The chapter discusses the issues raised by the cultural diversity revealed by a study of ancient and modern societies.
Keywords: emotions, cultural diversity, language, definition of emotion