[csomar]

I think the difference in the 21 century is increased awareness of consciousness. Unconscious animals don't care about survival of their own self. They just reproduce.

Humans, since getting a bit of self-awareness have been fantasizing with the idea. Religion, and self-rebirth after death is an example.

Now they are getting more real and more practical. If you think about it, it makes more sense to increase your lifetime than make another person to carry-on your dreams.

Your emotions tell you otherwise, because you were made to reproduce. The brain is working something else. It's evolving and thinks that it can solve this problem and instead re-make the body.