Instincts

There is no such thing as instincts.

All emotions are triggered by thoughts.

The baby cries when it's hungry because it's thinking about the pain in its stomach. And thinking about pain triggers the emotion which causes crying.

I don't know why a horse tries to stand immediately upon being born. But it's not "instincts". The word is just some vague hand waving not much better than saying "godidit". It's a process of thought for the horse. Getting away from pain, perhaps trying to get back to the safer place from whence it came. Quickly realizing these leg things do certain things. Through evolution there is no reason why one can't immediately be able to do some thinking right at birth... For the baby it simply thinks of its pain, the only thing close to instinctual is that by thinking certain thoughts, certain emotions are triggered.

"1. An inborn pattern of behavior that is characteristic of a species and is often a response to specific environmental stimuli: the spawning instinct in salmon; altruistic instincts in social animals.
2. A powerful motivation or impulse.
3. An innate capability or aptitude: an instinct for tact and diplomacy."

No, there is only clear thinking and haphazard vague thinking and the emotions which are triggered by each. There is no magical it does it because that's just what they do.

A pointless word at best with many ugly uses.

Salmon spawning in the river from which they were born:
Pigeons actually have compasses in their noses. So the salmon has something going on whereby it knows where to go.

But isn't sex instinctual? Sex is an emotion/hormone triggered by thoughts. The man thinks about the woman. Pleasurable endorphins or whatever result. Through trial and error he learns what will continue the pleasure he feels...

It isn't necessary to explain the salmon because human sex is nonsensical in and of itself. Logic combined with nonsensical steps. Why would such and such cause pleasure? Random beneficial mutations.

So does it matter at all to just call it instincts?

It reduces understanding a little too quick at times. Throws up a curtain at times... The real problem I guess perhaps is that people don't think thought triggers emotions/hormones/endorphins, etc, whatever? Wasn't that even what Hofstadter said?

"...85:00: "Emotion and intelligence are inseperable." I suppose I disagree.

Emotions are the side effects of certain thought processes."

From Victim of the Brain. Yes, I think you're wrong Mr. Hof, professor of AI or whatever. Emotions are the side effects of thinking, emotions are triggered by thoughts... If you see it as a big mush then we have mush words like 'instincts'. Which isn't to say I think it's not that way just to find a way to make it simpler... I don't think...