"The demand for immortality is nowadays essentially teleological. We believe ourselves immortal because we believe ourselves fit for immortality. A 'substance' ought to perish we think, if not worthy to survive, and an insubstantial 'stream' to prolong itself where worthy, if the nature of Things is organized in the rational way we trust it is."
--William James, "The Consciousness of Self", The Principles of Psychology
Whereas nowadays, at least in communities like this one, the demand is moral and technological. We think that not dying is desirable and achievable, but not yet achieved.
A monthly thread for posting rationality-related quotes you've seen recently (or had stored in your quotesfile for ages).