Single Idea 4681

[catalogued under 25. Social Practice / F. Life Issues / 2. Euthanasia]

Full Idea

It is argued that the mass murders of the Nazi period had their small beginnings in the Nazi euthanasia programme.

Gist of Idea

The Nazi mass murders seem to have originated in their euthanasia programme

Source

Jonathan Glover (Causing Death and Saving Lives [1977], §14.2)

Book Reference

Glover,Jonathan: 'Causing Death and Saving Lives' [Penguin 1982], p.186


A Reaction

This is the 'slippery slope' problem, and it seems undeniable that killing gets easier as you do more of it (e.g. on a farm). But not all slopes are slippery, if the focus is retained on reasons and justifications.