Or, you could say that instinct is accomplished on a conscious level, thus bringing your two arguments to a perfectly viable compromise. Hm?

Allow me to explain (God forbid, right?): Have you ever thought that something looked cute? I mean really cute. As in, a lot of people find squirrels really cute, or little babies. Or little baby squirrels! My point being, that feeling of "cute;" the feeling of need to protect and nurture is (according to theory, like everything else in this thread) parental instinct at work. Without this instinct, we would not care for our children, you humans included!

That a wolf (shiver) finds food and brings it home to her cubs specifically is instinct acting on consciousness: she does not think in terms of love for the children, but she feels an incredibly strong affection and need to protect. She is not aware, in fact, that eating makes one survive (only that eating makes one feel a whole lot better, which is the body's intent), and, instinctively, she wishes to pass that good feeling on to her offspring.

Examples of this are found in human activity everywhere. That is to say, our actions are determined by instinct a good 100% of the time. If anyone were in complete conscious control of their actions, nobody would be obese and nobody would have AIDS. But guess what? Your body tells you to eat, and your body tells you to have sex, and nine times out of ten, you'll do it. No questions asked. Even if, somewhere in the back of your mind, you know it is bad for you. I found, long ago, it is so fulfilling just to give in and surrender to what your body tells you to do. Of course, I haven't had sex yet and I might not ever...

Ben: - Not my fault -

but everyone says it is wonderful, and I'll probably jump to it the first time I feel the urge, just to see what it feels like. I've accepted that I am not in complete control of my life any more than anyone else is, but also that whatever is (various chemicals raging around in my bloodstream, I suppose) doesn't wish me any harm, and even wishes me pleasure. I'm not suggesting that chemicals in your blood have consciences, by the way. It was personification.

Well, I told myself I wouldn't come back to this thread and now look what I've gone and done. Just, everyone, don't get mad at me if I rant. Even if I don't make sense, I don't intend to preach or upset ^_^

~Tamias