Comments on: Evolutionary Instincts Vs. Rational Thought

By: Shyamsunder

Shyamsunder — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 09:08:33 +0000

the instinct of disgust is not discussed and its possible relation to obsessional compulsive disorder in humans

By: Bunny

Bunny — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 12:37:01 +0000

Matter said:
> Would it be possible to use some comments from this discussion as quotes or paraphrases for this particular section?

Dear Matter,

Go ahead and use, as quotes or paraphrases, whatever I have written in this discussion (the original post and a comment to it) in your book. I am OK with it as long as it doesn’t sound like things I never meant and my name is on it For the rest of the comments you may have to contact the respective authors.

All the best for the work on the book.

By: Matter

Matter — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 18:55:44 +0000

I’m so interested in this discussion, especially the aspect of the instinct to reproduce. I’m writing a book titled “Conception Perception” about the pronatal society of humans and changing concepts of reproductive choice, and I am including a chapter on logic overcoming instinct. Would it be possible to use some comments from this discussion as quotes or paraphrases for this particular section? At a later time I would like to join the discussion in depth.

By: Praneel

Praneel — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 17:09:04 +0000

To define Instincts and Needs-
Needs are the Organism’s natural requirements and Instinct is the Organism’s hardwired behavior that comes without a rational thought process. Usually Instincts make the organism to fulfill it’s needs and ensure it’s survival. In the lines above, if you replace organism with a set of genes belonging to a species, then you can understand the instinctual behavior of various social animals including us, Humans. Altruistic behavior is one example.

By: Bunny

Bunny — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 05:43:12 +0000

Shadab said:
> I was thinking instincts led to evolution.

Mutations and natural selection are the only factors that lead to evolution. Mutations occur randomly and when a mutation leads to better survival, the mutation succeeds and spreads. Everything else that does not fit well to the surrounding will eventually perish.

Now, certain behavior traits introduced in animals, those other than physical modifications, have also lead to better survival of species. One can say that ants with a behavior trait to live as a colony have lead to better survival rates compared to ants (or what ever predecessors) that don’t have an behavior trait to live alone. These behaviors could be brought about in a organism in many ways. For example, an ant born to a queen could be working for its colony/queen because it ‘likes’ to do so. Here the liking is an evolutionary instinct.

> At times I find confusing to draw a fine line between instinct and
> need.Do you have some thoughts on this ?

Evolutionary instincts are certainly based on what an organism needs. An organism ‘needs’ to reproduce to propagate its genes. So, the organism will have evolutionary instincts to get excited with mates of opposite sex and perform intercourse etc. A lion ‘needs’ to hunt so it has many instincts required for hunting. Evolutionary instincts are about leading us towards our needs. In many cases we probably end up doing nice things because of them. For example, a mother loving a child is a good thing for protecting her genes. The article ponders about evolutionary instincts which probably did us good in the past but are not serving us now because the nature around us changed and we have not had enough time/opportunity to evolve.

By: Shadab

Shadab — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 13:21:20 +0000

I was thinking instincts led to evolution.The idea of evolutionary instincts is new one which made me ponder.
My understanding is ,”Any living being is born with an instinct to survive.This very instinct led to evolution.”.May be the essence of my biology texts
At times I find confusing to draw a fine line between instinct and need.Do you have some thoughts on this ?