Torture Vs Modern Torture

Outcome

For years I’ve had an odd fascination with torture and as such I decided to use torture in my question for Research Project. A question I will answer in this article, to the best of my ability. The question I ask is, “Are modern torture methods in any way more ethical than torture methods used throughout history?”. However before I can answer this question I have to define a few key parts, namely “What is torture?” and “What defines history from modernity?”. In that vein, torture is defined by the United Nations Convention Against Torture as “...any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him or a third person information or a confession,

It does not include pain or suffering arising only from, inherent in or incidental to lawful sanctions.”This definition covers a great many acts ranging from simple beating to the most elaborate and painful execution imaginable. The definition also covers numerous motives one might have for torture as well, whether it be punishment or blackmail of a loved one. This is the definition I will use throughout this article to define torture. Regrettably my definition for the divide between history and modernity is not nearly so definite or well substantiated. This problem may arise later, however the generally accepted divide is somewhere between the 16th and 17th centuries, around the start of the enlightenment, this divide serves my purposes well for the most part and as such this is the divide I

However it is still an important issue that must be brought to light. We cannot turn away when at least 141 of the world’s countries participate in torture.

Another issue that makes torture difficult to discuss, especially in an academic setting, is the lack of proper research and the inability to perform such research. This makes it rather difficult to find well documented and supported evidence on the effects of torture. The reason this is the case is that it’s nigh impossible to ethically research torture. Although my job here would have been much easier if this was not the case, I do not believe it should change. The crux of my argument throughout this entire piece is that torture regardless of how well it’s dressed up is truly a barbaric and horrific act. Until we leave such monstrous and gruesome acts in the past we cannot truly claim to have risen above our ancestors. Whether we crucify our prisoners or whether we lock them in a room to go mad, it doesn’t change the inhumanity of the act, it doesn’t change the obvious lack of compassion and empathy we have when we turn away from such horrors. Regardless of when the techniques were devised or when it was