Does survival require selfishness?

One could argue either for or against the notion that self-survival requires selfishness. However, it is a generally accepted idea that the dominant impulse for human beings is their instinct for self-preservation.

Some people have been criticized for acting in ways that ensured their physical survival while others have perished. Such was the case with mountain climber Simon Yates who, as relayed in his book Touching the Void, cut loose his injured climbing partner, Joe...

One could argue either for or against the notion that self-survival requires selfishness. However, it is a generally accepted idea that the dominant impulse for human beings is their instinct for self-preservation.

Some people have been criticized for acting in ways that ensured their physical survival while others have perished. Such was the case with mountain climber Simon Yates who, as relayed in his book Touching the Void, cut loose his injured climbing partner, Joe Simpson, lest they both die.

In many cases, those who acted to saved themselves may not have been able to save others and may very well have perished along with them. Yet, many of these people have reported feeling guilty for surviving even though they know they could not have saved anyone else.