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 Reference
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.