Are we dead? No we are not...
Intelligence is what has contributed into our survival, it has given us more results than something as lacking as instincts. Instincts are great when something sudden happens, but we got the advantage of our mind. We don't need a set pattern to protect ourselves, we've got intelligence and we can plan our moves.
Humans only threat so far is ourselves. No other living thing can surpass us on the earth. Now tell me, how did we survive when we lacked the skills to survive? Because we didn't. ^_^