Will and Emotion

The conventional notion of 'emotion' is a passively endured state, like a color that an object bears. In contrast, Sartre conceives it as vicarious action in response to circumstances, e. g. 'anger' is an imaginary obliteration of its object, not a heated affect. The model of Experience here follows Sartre, by analyzing Emotion as a combination of Will and unsettled Formal Causality, i. e. of nascent Motility that remains unfocused, resulting in underdetermined action. Hence, Emotion is an intrinsically unstable condition which can be resolved either by a more effective organization and directing of generated energy, or by a more decisive detachment of Will from preceding circumstances. On the other hand, the popular glorification of 'emotion' only cultivates passivity, ineffectiveness, and frustration.