[yogar]

At this point we are already making assumptions about the validity of distinction between conscious action and instinct. Is conscious action an instinct? Where do we cross that line? I am afraid the definition is recursive. Thus we are ascertaining the consciousness of the action by assuming/accepting/defining the consciousness of the actor based on the lack of instinctive behavior!

[sliverstorm]

I don't know about you, but I can clearly distinguish between conscious decisions and instinct. You can argue about how all decisions are just chemistryy anywa, blah blah, but my decisions and my instincts clearly don't come from the same place.

[yogar]

Your distinction between conscious and instinctive is already based on the assumption of a definition for consciousness. What place does each one come from?

[Evbn]

If every member of a species behaves the same way (eating a lot and falling asleep), it is instinct. If we see diversity and individual creativity (ordering midwinter delivery, building a freezer, barricading the door, planting a garden), it is planning ahead, on top of a simpler instinct.

[yogar]

Challenging reply. Are we all then using freezers from instinct? We have not all created it but I would say we "consciously" decided to buy one. Do common behaviors become instinct? What is the difference between instinct and social norms? Also diversity may exist within the same class of instinctive expression (e.g. fear could mean running away or freezing.)

[Shorel]

>What is the difference between instinct and social norms?

Millions of years of natural selection. Social norms are ephemeral, while instinct is backed up by genetic support.

However, lots of stuff in our lives are a mix of both, so the answer is: let's study feral children!