Výraz emocí u člověka a u zvířat – Darwin Charles (2020)

Published in 1872, this book is the youngest of Darwin’s three principal works on evolutionary theory. It emphasizes the universal nature of emotional expression, revealed in similarities among different ethnic groups and between animals and humans, suggesting that emotions have an innate origin. Darwin connects mental states with the coordination of movements, as indicated by the related meanings of “motive” and “emotion.” The difference between humans and animals often lies in the fact that human expressions are symbolic indications of movements that had a literal meaning in their animal ancestors; for example, contempt and disgust are linked to movements originally intended to avoid an unpleasant smell. Darwin examines emotions including weeping, despair, cheerfulness, thoughtfulness, anger, contempt, guilt, surprise and shame, describing in detail how each is expressed. The book is also one of the earliest publications to be accompanied by photographs. It represents Darwin’s main contribution to the history of nineteenth-century psychology and can be regarded as an accessible introduction to his understanding of evolution. The contents are in Czech.