The Expression of the Emotions in Man And Animals

Paperback, 196 pages

English language

Published May 3, 2005 by Digireads.com.

ISBN:
9781420924992
OCLC Number:
74175063

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2 stars (1 review)

Many works have been written on Expression, but a greater number on Physiognomy, - that is, on the recognition of character through the study of the permanent form of the features. With this latter subject I am not here concerned. The older treatises,[1] which I have consulted, have been of little or no service to me. The famous `Conferences'[2] of the painter Le Brun, published in 1667, is the best known ancient work, and contains some good remarks.

39 editions

Interesting curio

2 stars

This thesis by Charles Darwin is a curio for me. It begins quite casually observing emotions relating to humans and animals, especially dogs, cats, horses, and monkeys. It then focusses on humankind as the premise for the rest of the observation. Darwin references heavily on other works and adds smatterings of his own family experiences, as well as accounts from friends in distant places. At one point it seems Charles is quite fascinated with the brow (corrugator) to a point where his bemusement is ticklish and later on with his chapter on blushing seems particularly keen on reporting incidents of women baring their bosoms. "This case is interesting, as the blush did not thus extend downwards until it became intense by her attention being drawn to this part of her person."

It's written more from a kind of early David Attenborough style, blending the personal with the scientific but not …

Subjects

  • Biology, Life Sciences
  • Psychology
  • Emotions
  • Life Sciences - Biology - General
  • Science