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Duchenne smiles are actions not mere happenings: lessons from the debate on expressive action

Cabrera, Marta (2022) Duchenne smiles are actions not mere happenings: lessons from the debate on expressive action. THEORIA. An International Journal for Theory, History and Foundations of Science, 37 (2). pp. 163-179. ISSN 2171-679X

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Abstract

In this paper, I will argue that, contrary to what is generally assumed in the debate on expressive action, we do not have good reasons to exclude facial and bodily expressions of emotion such as smiling or frowning from the category of actions. For this purpose, I will compare facial and bodily expressions of emotion with simple expressive actions, such as jumping for joy or covering one’s face in shame. I will try to show that simple expressive actions cannot be presented as actions while excluding facial and bodily expressions of emotion from this condition. My contention will then be that either both sorts of behaviour are to be identified as actions or neither is. The latter sounds rather implausible, though, as we would have to assimilate jumping for joy or covering one’s face in shame to spasms, which conflicts with the way we relate to such behaviours. My conclusion will then be that both simple expressive actions and facial and bodily expressions of emotion should be included within the category of actions, at least on the basis of the main assumptions in the current debate on expressive action.

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Item Type: Published Article or Volume
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
Cabrera, MartaMarta.Cabrera@uv.es0000-0001-6702-3707
Additional Information: ISSN: 0495-4548 (print)
Keywords: rationality; instrumentality; voluntariness; responsiveness; evaluative perspective.
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Cognitive Science > Action
General Issues > Explanation
Depositing User: Unnamed user with email theoria@ehu.es
Date Deposited: 31 Jul 2022 03:43
Last Modified: 31 Jul 2022 03:43
Item ID: 20989
Journal or Publication Title: THEORIA. An International Journal for Theory, History and Foundations of Science
Publisher: Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea / Universidad del País Vasco
Official URL: https://ojs.ehu.eus/index.php/THEORIA/article/view...
DOI or Unique Handle: 10.1387/theoria.22572
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Cognitive Science > Action
General Issues > Explanation
Date: May 2022
Page Range: pp. 163-179
Volume: 37
Number: 2
ISSN: 2171-679X
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/20989

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