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Is Torture Ever Ethical?

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Many experts argue that torture is an unreliable means of getting useful information. Weighing the costs and benefits of the use of torture has been a topic of debate since the tragic events of 9/11. Since the American government decided that the use of torture to gain information from suspected terrorists in the aftermath attacks of that day. Is the use of torture ever ethical?
There have been endless debates for view for and against the use of torture to gather intelligence to prevent such a tragedy from happening again. So is the use of torture ever ethical? To help determine, let’s take a look at the views of two well-known philosophers John Stuart Mill and Immanuel Kant. Each of these philosophers had strong opinions and stances of …show more content…

To illustrate his point he uses the ticking time bomb theory, a bomb hidden somewhere in a public area and if not found hundreds of innocent lives will be lost if it’s not found and detonated. The suspected bomber is in custody and refuses to say where the bomb is. The terrorist refuses to disclose the bomb's location, should torture be used to elicit the information needed to save these lives? Mr. Harris would say yes, it is ethical, and that there will always be collateral damage when you venture into war and make no mistake we are waging a war on …show more content…

Many would disagree with his view, but consider this an act of torture doesn’t guarantee death or permanent injury to the person or persons being tortured. While the terrorist act in and of itself usually results in a major loss of innocent lives. If your family were to be impacted by this act of terror what would your view
By comparison, Charles and Gregory Fried, the father and son interviewed in 'Because It Is Wrong': A Meditation On Torture regarding their views on the use of torture are very different. Both are very literal in their thoughts, opinions and views; which they base on a precise interpretation of the Constitution and historical statements made by Presidents Washington and Lincoln.
Dr. Fried and his son go so far as to say even if torture were made legal it is still wrong and it dishonors our country to commit such acts which shows their extreme level of patriotism for our country and its history but isn’t very realistic. In my opinion to base your moral stance on such a narrow black and white view of the world we currently live in isn’t

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