251 Essays on Infinite Lifespans   Marc Geddes to secure long-term gain. For example, a person would not get up out of bed in the morning if they were trying to maximize their  short-term  survival  chances.  However,  a  little  longer- term thinking can determine that the rational action is to take the risk of getting out into the world and accomplishing your goals. That is the only way to make ends meet and survive over the long run. It is important to emphasize that staying alive requires constant effort, and immortality is a journey not a destination. SELFISHNESS There is another point to consider here. Immortality as a fundamental moral imperative need not be interpreted in a purely egotist sense. That is, it is not being argued that the survival  of  our  own  individual  life  is  central  at  all  times. We can also allow that the lives of others may take precedence in some circumstances. It is perfectly consistent with immor- talist morality to take some risks in order to help the survival chances of others. Throughout history, explorers and soldiers put their lives on the line for the good of others. In some circumstances it may be life-affirming to practice altruism, and sacrifice our own life so that others may live. So clearly, immortalist morality is not totally selfish. This also answers the objection that the chance of radical life extension in our lifetime is too low to make it a worthy goal. Some may say that it is not worth wasting time on such an unlikely goal when there are many problems to solve in the here and now. But our own personal chance of success has no bearing on whether or not life extension is a worthy goal. Even if we die long before scientific advances find a cure for old age, the goal is still worthy in so far as we are helping others to reach it.