more from this thinker     |     more from this text


Single Idea 4313

[filed under theme 18. Thought / A. Modes of Thought / 3. Emotions / e. Basic emotions ]

Full Idea

Descartes says there are six primary passions (wonder, love, hatred, desire, joy and sadness); Spinoza says there are just three (joy, sadness and desire).

Gist of Idea

Are there a few primary passions (say, joy, sadness and desire)?

Source

report of René Descartes (The Passions of the Soul [1649]) by John Cottingham - The Rationalists p.172

Book Ref

Cottingham,John: 'The Rationalists' [OUP 1988], p.172


A Reaction

A dubious project. However, it is now agreed that there are a few (six?) basic universal facial expressions, to which these passions may correspond.


The 12 ideas with the same theme [attempts to pick out key emotions]:

There are four basic emotions: pleasure or delight, distress, appetite, and fear [Stoic school, by Cicero]
Are there a few primary passions (say, joy, sadness and desire)? [Descartes, by Cottingham]
There are six primitive passions: wonder, love, hatred, desire, joy and sadness [Descartes, by Goldie]
Apart from pleasure and pain, the only emotions are appetite and aversion [Hobbes]
The 'simple passions' are appetite, desire, love, aversion, hate, joy, and grief [Hobbes, by Goldie]
The three primary emotions are pleasure, pain, and desire [Spinoza, by Goldie]
The three primary emotions are pleasure, pain and desire [Spinoza]
There are no 'basic' emotions, only socially prevalent ones [Solomon]
Emotions are not avocado pears, with a rigid core and changeable surface [Goldie]
A basic emotion is the foundation of a hierarchy, such as anger for types of annoyance [Goldie]
Early Chinese basic emotions: joy, anger, sadness, fear, love, disliking, and liking [Goldie]
Cross-cultural studies of facial expressions suggests seven basic emotions [Goldie]