Xref: utzoo sci.psychology:160 rec.birds:508 sci.bio:1051
Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!actnyc!gcf
From: gcf@actnyc.UUCP (Gordon Fitch)
Newsgroups: sci.psychology,rec.birds,sci.bio
Subject: Re: Intelligent Parrots, or Self-deception and Gullibility.
Message-ID: <762@actnyc.UUCP>
Date: 1 Apr 88 15:34:59 GMT
References: <1988Mar4.162334.18184@utzoo.uucp> <4299@blia.BLI.COM> <1988Mar9.132722.3364@mntgfx.mentor.com> <2495@geac.UUCP> <2535@saturn.ucsc.edu>
Reply-To: gcf@actnyc.UUCP (Gordon Fitch)
Organization: InterACT Corporation
Lines: 16

In article <2535@saturn.ucsc.edu> kevin@chromo.UUCP (Kevin McLoughlin) writes:
}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.

I tried to email this non-rhetorical question, but no go; I have
to post.  What do we call behavior which is apparently programmed
into the behaving organism?  It used to be called instinct.