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From: kevin@chromo.ucsc.edu (Kevin McLoughlin)
Newsgroups: sci.psychology,rec.birds,sci.bio
Subject: Re: Intelligent Parrots, or Self-deception and Gullibility.
Message-ID: <2535@saturn.ucsc.edu>
Date: 28 Mar 88 20:12:56 GMT
References: <1988Mar4.162334.18184@utzoo.uucp> <4299@blia.BLI.COM> <1988Mar9.132722.3364@mntgfx.mentor.com> <2495@geac.UUCP>
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Reply-To: kevin@chromo.UUCP (Kevin McLoughlin)
Organization: Physics Asylum, University of California, Santa Cruz
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In article <2495@geac.UUCP> sigrid@geac.UUCP (Sigrid Grimm) writes:

>For all we know intelligence is *instinctive* in which case our own version of 
>it is no more a big deal than any of the fabulous behaviour of other animals 
>which we attribute to instinct (as in "oh, that's not *intelligent behaviour* 
>[god forbid!!], it's just instinct"). 

The term "instinct" is totally meaningless. It's usually used to
describe a behavior whose origin is not understood. It is a black
box. It doesn't belong in discussions of behavior or, perhaps,
much else.

-----------
Susan Nordmark
Internet: kevin@chromo.UCSC.edu			
UUCP: ...ucbvax!ucscc!chromo.kevin		Santa Cruz, CA