They are cognitive in that they are directed at some outside thing which we understand and evokes feeling within us. Often we connect it to the idea of reaction as opposed to action. Nevertheless, there is also a place for the instinctual in the doing of justice. For now consider, that as we consider to act, and how to act, in a given dispute, all three states, reason, feeling, and instinct need to conjoin together. And so too, it is never sufficient that we are both attune, and rational, for we do not act without impetus, we must be ignited into action.
Ignition is itself intimately tied to instinct.