instinct

instinct
(Lat., instinctus, impulse or urge) The term implies innately determined behaviour, inflexible to change in circumstance and outside the control of deliberation and reason. The view that animals accomplish even complex tasks by nature and not by reason was common to Aristotle and the Stoics, and the inflexibility of their routines was used in defence of this position as early as Avicenna . A continuity between animal and human reason was proposed by Hume, and followed by sensationalists such as the naturalist Erasmus Darwin (1731–1802). The theory of evolution prompted various views of the emergence of stereotypical behaviour, and the idea that innate determinants of behaviour are fostered by specific environments is a guiding principle of ethology. In this sense it may be instinctive in human beings to be social, and for that matter to reason. See also animal thought.

Philosophy dictionary. . 2011.

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  • INSTINCT — L’éthologie comparative, qui cherche à retracer, à l’aide de comparaisons interspécifiques, l’évolution des comportements à travers la série zoologique, propose une théorie renouvelée des instincts et définit ces derniers comme des actes propres… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Instinct — • The term usually includes the idea of a purposive adaptation of an action or series of actions in an organized being, not governed by consciousness of the end to be attained Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Instinct     Instinc …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Instinct — is the inherent disposition of a living organism toward a particular behavior. Instincts are unlearned, inherited fixed action patterns of responses or reactions to certain kinds of stimuli. Examples of instinctual fixed action patterns can be… …   Wikipedia

  • instinct — INSTÍNCT, instincte, s.n. Complex de reflexe înnăscute, necondiţionate, proprii indivizilor dintr o anumită specie şi care le asigură dezvoltarea organismului, alimentarea, reproducerea, apărarea. – Din fr. instinct, lat. instinctus. Trimis de… …   Dicționar Român

  • Instinct — In stinct ([i^]n st[i^][ng]kt), n. [L. instinctus instigation, impulse, fr. instinguere to instigate: cf. F. instinct. See {Instinct}, a.] [1913 Webster] 1. Natural inward impulse; unconscious, involuntary, or unreasoning prompting to any mode of …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • instinct — INSTINCT. s. m. Certain sentiment & mouvement que la nature a donné aux animaux pour connoistre ce qui leur est bon ou mauvais. Un instinct naturel. les bestes ont l instinct qui les fait agir, se conduisent, se gouvernent par l instinct, par pur …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • instinct — [in′stiŋkt΄; ] for adj. [ in stiŋkt′, in′stiŋkt΄] n. [< L instinctus, pp. of instinguere, to impel, instigate < in , in + * stinguere, to prick: for IE base see STICK] 1. (an) inborn tendency to behave in a way characteristic of a species;… …   English World dictionary

  • Instinct — In*stinct , a. [L. instinctus, p. p. of instinguere to instigate, incite; cf. instigare to instigate. Cf. {Instigate}, {Distinguish}.] Urged or stimulated from within; naturally moved or impelled; imbued; animated; alive; quick; as, birds… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Instinct — Разработчик …   Википедия

  • Instinct — (ISSN 1096 0058) ist eine US amerikanische Zeitschrift. Die Zeitschrift richtet sich an homosexuelle und bisexuelle Männer in den Vereinigten Staaten. Das Magazin wird seit 1997 monatlich in englischer Sprache landesweit herausgegeben, Die… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Instinct — In*stinct ([i^]n*st[i^][ng]kt ), v. t. To impress, as an animating power, or instinct. [Obs.] Bentley. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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