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instinct

is an action similar to that which is guided by the conception of an end, and yet is entirely without an end.

Aristotle was right: there is a power within that moulds every form, in plants and planets, in animals and men. 'The instinct of animals in general gives us the best illustration of what remains of teleology in nature. For as instinct is an action similar to that which is guided by the conception of an end, and yet is entirely without this... so all construction in nature resembles that which is guided by the conception of an end, and yet is entirely without it.

In art as in love, instinct is enough. Anatole France

is in the will, as seen best in reproduction, which is placed almost entirely beyond control of knowledge or reflection.

Reproduction is the ultimate purpose of every organism, and its strongest instinct... for only so can the will conquer death. And to ensure this conquest of death, the will to reproduce is placed almost entirely beyond control of knowledge or reflection: even a philosopher, occasionally, has children.

is like nature herself prodigiously conservative, and yet transcending her own historical conditions in her acts of creation.

Instinct is like Nature herself prodigiously conservative, and yet transcending her own historical conditions in her acts of creation. Carl Jung

is nature that seeks to perpetuate nature. It contrasts itself with consciousness which is nothing other than man's turning away from and opposing himself to instinct in favor of culture.

It is just man's turning away from instinct-- his opposing himself to instinct-- that creates consciousness. Instinct is nature andseeks to perpetuate nature... while consciousness can only seek culture or its denial. Carl Jung

is prior to intellect and carries a similar appearance to it, for example, when a young dog fears to jump down from the table... it foresees the effect of the fall not by reasoning (for it has no experience of such a fall) but by instinct.

The marvelous mechanical skill of animals shows how prior the will is to the intellect. An elephant which had been led through Europe, and had crossed hundreds of bridges, refused to advance upon a weak bridge, though it had seen many horses and men crossing it. A young dog fears to jump down from the table... it foresees the effect of the fall not by reasoning (for it has no experience of such a fall) but by instinct. Orang-outings warm themselves by a fire which they find, but they do not feed the fire... obviously, then, such actions are instinctive, and not the result of reasoning... they are the expression not of intellect but of will.

's very essence is that it is followed independently of reason.

The very essence of instinct is that it's followed independently of reason.

's entire existence serves the one end of bringing about death.

The whole life of instinct serves the one end of bringing about death. Freud

instinct, n.Definitions

instinct