Is Survival Selfish?

The Case of the Titanic

• In April 1912, Jay Bruce Ismay, chairman of the company that owned the Titanic, survived the sinking.
• Despite claiming to have helped women and children, Ismay was harshly criticized for saving himself.
• Media and public labeled him an uncivilized coward, leading to his resignation a year later.
• The "women and children first" protocol still influences our view of heroism and selfishness.

Perspectives on Survival

• The question: Is survival selfish or smart? Is rescuing others always heroic or sometimes foolish?
• Survival situations are complex and varied.

Instincts and Survival

• Self-preservation is an instinct but doesn't always manifest correctly in crises.
• Example: 2007 Grand Central Station explosion – many people froze instead of moving away.
• A survival trainer noted that the key to survival is holding it together vs. falling apart, and this is unpredictable.

Responsibility in Crisis

• Anecdote: A woman survived a plane crash by taking direct action, while others were paralyzed by fear.
• Survivors sometimes feel guilt for not saving others, influenced by mixed messages about survival ethics.

Heroism vs. Smart Decision Making

• Example: Simon Yates in "Touching the Void" – cut a rope to save himself, was later criticized despite the high survival odds.
• Decisions in survival often have to be instantaneous; heroes claim not to think before acting, suggesting an instinctive response.

Fight or Flight

• Humans have both "fight" and "flight" instincts which may explain different behaviors in crises.
• We are social animals, possibly instinctively driven to help others while also wanting to save ourselves.

Mixed Messages and Social Influences

• Society sends mixed messages about survival and heroism – praising self-sacrifice while sometimes criticizing smart survival.
• The balance between bravery and foolishness, smartness and selfishness, is often blurred.

Conclusion

• Survival instinct and the drive to help others are both deeply ingrained and can conflict.
• Understanding of these drives can vary based on situation and individuals.