2016). Using this ethical framework to argue against torture, one needs to consider the violation of the terrorist’s rights. Utilitarians argue that under a scenario where thousands of people are in danger, the well-being of the larger community is more important than neglecting the rights of a single individual (Krauthammer 2005). The simple idea of taking away a person’s autonomy for the sake of others violates rights ethics. To comprehend the violation upon the victim’s rights, it is important to understand how torture feels, “Brian describes his body as having become an object… pain is the central reality; it dominates experience and expression (Wisnewski 2010, 81).” Some may argue the terrorist is responsible for putting himself in a situation where torture would be the only answer (Mayerfeld 2008). This argument undermines the terrorist’s perspective. Ultimately, the terrorists believe what they are doing is right and have concrete reasoning for their actions (Mayerfeld
In Michael Levin's The Case for Torture, Levin provides an argument in which he discusses the significance of inflicting torture to perpetrators as a way of punishment. In his argument, he dispenses a critical approach into what he believes justifies torture in certain situations. Torture is assumed to be banned in our culture and the thought of it takes society back to the brutal ages. He argues that societies that are enlightened reject torture and the authoritative figure that engage in its application risk the displeasure of the United States. In his perspective, he provides instances in which wrongdoers put the lives of innocent people at risk and discusses the aspect of death and idealism. The author believes that the thoughts of enlightened societies are unwise and ascertains that there are situations whereby torture becomes morally mandatory in dealing with terrorists.
"Enhanced Interrogation" is a term that was introduced by the George W. Bush administration. This type of investigation includes physically forcible interventions, such as waterboarding, sleep deprivation, facial slapping, forced standing for days and so on. Torture has been an argument for a long time to fight terrorism, but it is a bigger issue, especially after the incident of September 11, 2001. And still, it is not over that we should use "Enhanced Interrogation" or not. The techniques that are utilized in this type of investigation they are unethically and morally wrong, but they work. In my opinion "Enhanced Interrogation" means torturing someone to get information, and that information can save thousands of lives. And it is also important
In Michael Levin’s “The Case for Torture”, he uses many cases of emotional appeal to persuade the reader that torture is necessary in extreme cases. There are many terms/statements that stick with the reader throughout the essay so that they will have more attachment to what is being said. Levin is particularly leaning to an audience based in the United States because he uses an allusion to reference an event that happened within the states and will better relate to the people that were impacted by it. The emotional appeals used in this essay are used for the purpose of persuading the reader to agree that in extreme instances torture is necessary and the United States should begin considering it as a tactic for future cases of extremity.
Schiemann, John W. "Interrogational Torture: Or How Good Guys Get Bad Information With Ugly Methods." Political Research Quarterly 65.1 (2012): 3-19. Academic Search Complete. Web. 08 Feb. 2016. This source explains that torture is actually one of the last methods used when they are interrogating someone since many know that it has a very low success rate. If the person is not willing to cooperate, they go down a list. Many people thought to use the top methods as they are not as immoral. Getting to the end of the list thought means they have nothing else to make the person talk which is why they use
These similarities aren’t by chance, or even unexpected. In fact, in a US military study quoted by Gawande, “almost a hundred and fifty naval aviators returning from imprisonment in Vietnam, reported that they found social isolation to be as torturous and agonizing as any physical abuse they suffered” (Gawande, 2009). Thus, it seems very clear that the psychological agony imposed by prolonged isolation in US prisons is frighteningly similar to the torture experienced by prisoners of war overseas. The United States has a long (if nuanced) history of condemning torture, and in a previous report to the UN, the US submitted that torture was “categorically denounced as a matter of policy and as a tool of state authority” (Human Rights Watch, 2009).
Terroristic torture can be used carefully with specialized technics to help protect the American people of future terroristic attacks that may cause them to get injured or even killed. Across the world in Europe, terroristic threats are cutting heads of Christians and drowning them in cages to prove to us that they are serious and intend a possible threat to our American
During the medieval era torture was considered a legitimate practice in getting a confession or to receive the name of any accomplice in the crime committed. The crime committed and the accused individual’s social class determined the form of torture. However individuals were primarily toured for acts of treason.Torture was inflicted by the Church, because only Monarchs and the highest nobles were allowed to inflict torture. Torture occurred so often during the medieval era that public holidays were declared for mass torture events. The most horrendous torture devices used during the medieval era were the judas cradle,the iron maiden, and rat torture.
“Waterboarding is a technique used to simulate drowning, where a cloth is placed over the nose and mouth and then water is poured onto cloth to restrict breathing which induces panic and fear. Sleep deprivation is used to hold a person awake for a long period of time, often held in stress positions, put in cold rooms, or put in rooms with blaring sounds on short loops. Confinement is when a person is put inside a confined box to restrict movement, also bugs are added (in some cases) to the confined box to exploit a phobia and to induce discomfort and fear.” Torture in most cases will resume until the detainee reveals
is surprisingly supportive of government torture. In the particular case study involving waterboarding, 56-24 Americans said that it produced intelligence that could have prevented terrorist attacks (Blake). Due to the flexibility of the definition of torture, some government officials don’t even consider waterboarding torture due to the fact it doesn’t equate to the loss of an organ. (Welna). In the light of the uncertainty related with waterboarding, Donald Trump, the current president, has voiced his desire to reinforce the torture technique of “waterboarding” due to its “effectiveness” (Garvey). However, many times “enhanced interrogation” produced false and misleading information (McCain). Out of the prior 56-24 Americans, 59-31 of them said that the torture inflicted was justified (Blake). Terrorism brings up the desire for torture and due to the past event of 9/11, the desire for security and safety in America has gone up drastically. Those who approved of torture techniques wanted to protect Americans and “keep faith with the victims of terrorism and to prove to [their] enemies that the United States would pursue justice relentlessly” (McCain). Compared to the previous events, it’s understandable that the U.S. has such a high torture acceptance rate, however countries around the world have margins that are much less in favor for torture, so what’s the difference?
The focus of this report is about Jehnanne d’Arc and her unmistakeable significance in history. It is also evident that the Medieval Inquisition had a number of procedures to discover to prosecute the heretics.
Torture is the action of willingly hurting a person psychologically or physically. The use of torture by individuals, groups, and authorities has been going on from ancient times until today. In the 4th Century, voices started being raised against the use of torture. In fact, well-known philosopher and scientist, Aristotle, revealed the downfalls of torture, “those under compulsion are as likely to give false evidence as true, some being ready to endure everything rather than tell the truth, while others are really ready to make false charges against others, in the hope of being sooner released from torture”. In order to prevent further terrorist attacks, the CIA had to practice unethical questioning methods such as psychological techniques, sensory bombardment consisting of subjecting the tortured to continuous extremely
After watching Rendition, if I was asked to teach about torture I would answer and explain some basic questions about it. For example, What is torture? Why is it used? For whom is it used for? Is it legal? Etc.
In “Because It Is Wrong”: A Meditation on Torture the argument that is being made is torture is illegal because is wrong. The moral that this article presents is that there is no such thing as reasonable torture.
Today’s interrogations have limitations of what can be used. The government calls it clean torture for it leaves no lasting marks on the victim. For no permanent damage to be given, certain punishments are under time restraints but there are no limitations on