ESTIMATIVA. - It is the interior faculty by which the animal apprehends things useful or harmful to its life, and corresponds to what in modern psychology is called instinct. The animal, being devoid of reason, cannot form these evaluations of value for itself, and therefore it is necessary that they be innate in its psyche and that they come into operation immediately upon first contact with reality. Such value refers to things as such and not to their external qualities: « ... sicut ovis videns lupum venientem fugit, non propter indecentiam coloris vel figuræ, sed quasi inimicum naturæ. Et similiter avis colligit palcem, non quia delectat sensum, sed quia est utilis ad nidificandum » (Sum. Theol., 1e, q. 78, a. 4 c). Therefore
e. represents in the animal the highest degree of knowledge, because it guides it in the conduct of life. Corresponding to e. in man is the cogitative faculty. (v.).