The Ethics of Torture Essay examples - 1206 Words

The institution of torture has been in existence for quite sometime; however, it was not always seen as an ethical question. In antiquity, the Romans employed something known as â€Å"the cat-of-nine-tails,† which was a flogging instrument with nine sharp ends. However, the use of torture was not confined to the West, the Chinese utilized â€Å"bamboo sticks to beat people.† During antiquity, torture was used as a punishment, but during the Spanish Inquisition, this notion of torture evolved to a means to extract withheld information. Today torture is unofficially used to extract information; however, it is officially illegal according to the United Nations and the Geneva Conventions. Nonetheless, the issue of legality and†¦show more content†¦It just so happens that one member of the local law enforcement is skilled in using torture as an integration technique. Both the police and the skilled torture are certain that the suspect knows where the nuclear dev ice is and that, by torturing him, they can prevent the death of many innocents. Some would say, like Henry Shue that in this instance that the suspect could be morally tortured regardless of the law. The important factors are that, the authorities had a strong suspicion of an attack, and they had a suspect in hand. The authorities were sure that the suspect knew where the bomb was, and that upon torture the suspect would relinquish the bomb’s location. Henry Shue admits that this specific set of factors is very rare, and that torture should still be illegal. If the perfect situation presents it self, he argues, that there is a moral justification, if not a duty, to torture in order to prevent the loss of innocent life. Now, Shue qualifies what torture is by saying â€Å"the torture is purely interrogational,† meaning that no serious harm will come of the person being tortured. In essence, the immorality of torture is not absolute—it is conditional. In addition, by saying that torture is ethical when x y and z happen, means that the consequences of torture are being used to judge torture’s morality. However, this is problematic because it goes againstShow MoreRelatedEthics Of Torture And Torture1113 Words   |  5 Pages Ethics of Torture The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines torture as the act of causing severe physical pain as a form of punishment or as a way to force someone to do or say something. But what would one call morally acceptable torture? Is sleep depriving a criminal in order to find out the location of a missing person wrong? Does waterboarding a terrorist to find out information count as a morally correct reason to torture? Recently the C.I.A. released a detailed torture report to the publicRead MoreTorture and Ethics1447 Words   |  6 PagesTour Torture and Ethics Paper CJA 530 January 31st, 2011 Eddie Koen Torture and Ethics Paper Torture is something that is known as wrong internationally. Torture is â€Å"deliberate, systematic or wanton infliction of physical or mental suffering by one or more persons acting on the orders of authority, to force a person to yield information, to confess, or any other reason† (World Medical Association, 1975, pg.1). There is a general consensus that there is a rightRead MoreThe Ethics And Ethics Of Torture Essay1182 Words   |  5 Pages Amidst the many controversial topics circulating around our world today, ethical arguments have emerged about torture that question its mere value in society. One can assume that the use of torture may involve intentionally inflicting psychological or physical pain to a being in exchange for some sort of gratification, information, or action. Although torture has been prominent from ancient to modern days, it has seemed to be noticeably sanctioned by individuals or groups of the government in theRead MoreTorture and Ethics1604 Words   |  7 PagesTorture and Ethics Paper Alfreepha Williams AJS/532 July 21, 2013 Patricia DeAngelis Torture and Ethics There are many views or definition of the word â€Å"torture†, which is often debated by many individuals. According to â€Å"International Rehabilitation Council For Torture Victims† (2005-2012), â€Å"torture is an act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining information or a confession, punishing him for anRead MoreEssay about The Ethics of Torture1633 Words   |  7 Pages In the United States legal system, torture is currently defined as â€Å"an act committed by a person acting under the color of law specifically intended to inflict severe physical or mental pain or suffering (other than pain or suffering incidental to lawful sanctions) upon another person within his custody or physical control.† as defined by Office of the Law Revision Counsel, U.S. House of Representatives (US Code, 1) Though this is a seemingly black and white definition, the condition al â€Å"†¦otherRead MoreEthics Of Torture : Who Are We Really Hurting?990 Words   |  4 PagesTorture is a heinous crime to anyone who is put under the duress of those who either get enjoyment or use it as a device for information gathering. In recent years it has been more in use as a focal point with the recent killings of aid and social workers in the Middle East and travelers that enter North Korea to state a message or obtain information. If the rules of the Geneva Convention do not apply, then what rules do apply? Ethics of torture: who are we really hurting? ConflictRead MoreIs Torture Morally Wrong?1265 Words   |  6 Pagesbelief that torture is morally wrong. Popular culture, religious point of views, and every other form of culture for many decades has taught that it is a wrongdoing. But is torture really a wrong act to do? To examine the act of torture as either a means or an end we must inquire about whether torture is a means towards justice and therefore morally permissible to practice torture on certain occasions. â€Å"Three issues dominate the debates over the morality of torture: (1) Does torture work? (2) IsRead MoreEthics And Morality : A Noble Cause Corruption1196 Words   |  5 PagesEthics and morality are broad topics of everyday life. Instinctively, we as humans know the difference between right and wrong but in some cases, our ethics will narrow. Actions and decisions become selfish and for the sole purpose of personal gain. In some cases, unethical ways may even be illegal. Noble cause corruption is a prime ex ample of when a person will utilize unethical means for a result to benefit the greater good. Noble cause corruption differs with traditional corruption. TraditionalRead MoreEssay on Code of Ethics and Security Case Study1600 Words   |  7 PagesCode of Ethics and Security Case Study December 20, 2010 Abstract As we examine the case of â€Å"Cop Gets 15 Years in Torture Case†, we evaluate from four different perspectives the different ethical theories; ethical relativism, ethical egoism, deontological ethics and ontological ethics to determine how the different perspectives support or condemn the conduct in this  case study. The case involves the brutal sodomizing of a black male Haitian immigrant, Abner Louima by two white New York policeRead MoreThe Extreme Forms Of Human Violence1515 Words   |  7 Pages As one of the most extreme forms of human violence, torture has many long-term detrimental physical and mental health consequences. For those who have endured torture, a potential negative outcome of their experience can include the psychologists’ undermined role and legitimacy as a mental health professional (Olson Soldz, 2007). Following periods of torture-based interrogations, survivors inexorably harbor distrust for psychologists. In the future, this could prevent them from seeking treatment