MaryMeetsDolly reflects on the consequences of prioritizing one class of humans over another in her comment, "...we abandon the human embryo to the whims of researchers at our own peril. By protecting the human embryo, we protect all of us that are of the same species. If humans are valuable because of their characteristics or usefulness it becomes quite easy to call out a group who are below par and not worthy of life. In the case of pre-born humans, we've seen the application of irrational and arbitrary measures of worth based upon the potential burden of the child, genetic predisposition, level of development, pressures of society, whims of the parents, etc.
The valuation of human life on the basis of a characteristic, quality or contribution inevitably leads to the oppression of the "undesirable"; those whom others find "inconvenient" or of little worth. The "slippery slope" is simply the extent to which those who have adopted this view are consistent with their fundamental view of human value.
In his expose of Darwinism, Ben Stein does a remarkable job of driving this point home while questioning historians about Hitler and his death camp doctors Given the despicable crimes against humanity Stein asks, "Wasn't Hitler insane?" No. He has consistent but certainly not insane.
Humans are intrinsically valuable based upon what we are, regardless of our characteristics, intelligence, health, developmental status or abilities. The abandonment of any member, regardless of his or her size or development, does indeed imperil all.
