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The Pros And Cons Of Torture

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When examining the usefulness of torture in averting large-scale lethal attacks on innocents, the topic of whether allowances should be made for harsh interrogation techniques that constitute to torture emerges. We need to make a distinction between consequentialist and deontological moral reasoning to address this. This essay seeks to investigate the ethical implications of this problem from a deontological and consequentialist moral perspective. Posner and Vermeule support the idea that torture is acceptable in certain situations, but it's important to consider the ramifications of this position in the context of a wider ethical perspective. Deontological moral reasoning emphasizes on how acts are inherently moral and how they comply with moral rules. Torture is frequently seen as ethically wrong, irrespective of the circumstances or possible results, from a deontological perspective. Deontologists contend that torture goes against these core values since all people possess inherent rights and dignity that must be protected. Despite of what possible advantages it could have, torture …show more content…

Consequentialists would evaluate if the inherent moral issues of torture can be balanced out by the possible advantages of averting large-scale harm and protecting lives of innocent people. Calculating the possible advantages and damages associated as well as the balance between opposing rights are key components of the ethical evaluation. The trade-off between competing rights must be carefully considered in light of the consequentialist viewpoint.On the contrary, there is a moral need to reject torture, emphasizing the value and dignity that each person possesses inherently.On the other side, there is the moral right of innocent people not to be murdered or harmed, which has enormous moral

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In the article “The Case for Torture”, Michael Levin argues that the use of torture as a way to save lives is justifiable and necessary. Levin draws a series of cases where torture might be acceptable so as to set certain precedent for the justification of torture in more realistic cases. HoweverLevin illustrates three cases where torture might be justifiable.he describes a terrorist keeping city of millions hostage to an atomic bomb, the second, a terrorist who has implanted remote bombs on a plane and the third, a terrorist who has kidnapped a baby. torture and its consequences have been recorded in countries around of world over a vast span of time, and for a variety of reasons. Levin makes no such attempt to expand his article beyond

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1694 Words | 7 Pages

Many have said that they would want nonlethal torture to be used in such cases but “did not want torture to be officially recognized by our legal system.” Similar statements have posited that while “torture might be necessary in a given situation it could never be right.” This approach, that of keeping torture off-the-books, is in direct conflict with the necessity for accountability and transparency in a democracy. A democracy cannot work if the public is kept in the dark. The public must know what is going on in order to approve or disapprove.

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699 Words | 3 Pages

Mahatma Gandhi, the preeminent leader of the Indian independence movement states “You can chain me, you can torture me, you can even destroy this body, but you will never imprison my mind.” This is important because torture is brutal on the body and mind. The article “Torture’s Terrible Toll” by John McCain is more convincing then the article “The Case for Torture” by Michael Levin because McCain provides more logical reasoning, he adds his own personal experience of being a captured prisoner during the Vietnam War, and he creates an emotional bond with people around the world. Through more logical reasoning McCain Argument is more valid than Levin.

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686 Words | 3 Pages

The Case for Torture Wins Torture is it morally acceptable? Many have debated this argument but I would like to bring up two main conflicting view points from Michael Levin, and Marzieh Ghisai. Michael Levin is a Jewish law professor who wrote The Case for Torture where he advocates where torture is acceptable in some circumstances.

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295 Words | 2 Pages

After finding some torture tactics, it helped me research about the negative effects of torture. In his article, “Torture is a Crime”, Curt Goering listed the negative effects of torture. He argues that torture is illegal, ineffective, immoral and makes those around us unsafe. Curt uses ethos in his piece to back up his main argument. For example, he mentions that in 1984, the UN adopted the Convention against torture and it was ratified by the U.S. Senate in 1990.

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515 Words | 3 Pages

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. One major eye catching factor of this essay is the repetitive use of words that imply certain stigmas.

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313 Words | 2 Pages

Many people might think that torture is cruel, unacceptable and it does not show humanity. In contrast, Michael Levin says that implementing torture is needed to prevent future evil acts. In “The Case for Torture”, Michael Levin also makes it clear that there are situations in which torture is not merely acceptable but morally necessary. Levin argues that implementing torture to save people lives is morally right and reasonable. Levin’s purpose of his text is to let people know that there are times when torture becomes an option to save and protect innocent lives.

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971 Words | 4 Pages

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.

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1050 Words | 5 Pages

While analyzing “The Torture Myth” and “The Case for Torture”, it is very clear to see the type of rhetorical appeals used to persuade the audience. Anne Applebaum, the writer of “The Torture Myth” --in context of the decision of electing a new Attorney General--would argue that torture is very seldomly effective, violates a person’s rights, and should be outlawed due to the irrational need upon which physical torture is used. On the other hand, Michael Levin strongly argues that physical torture is crucial to solving every imminent danger to civilians. Levin claims that if you don’t physically torture someone, you are being weak and want to allow innocent people to die over something that could have been simply done.

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742 Words | 3 Pages

In the face of terrorism, one of the most pressing moral issues is the use of torture as a means of extracting information. The essay, “The Case for Torture”, by philosopher Michael Levin, is a persuasive piece about the morality and validity of torture in dire situations. To persuade readers of his opinion, the writer incorporates a formal vocabulary to elevate his argument, an informal point of view to redirect readers’ moral compass, and an informal and formal tone to strip terrorists of their rights. Throughout his essay, Levin uses a formal vocabulary to give himself authority on speaking about a controversial topic such as torture. As most western democracies, the writer’s audience, outright ban torture and regard it as cruel, Levin

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1384 Words | 6 Pages

Introduction It’s a vegetable that doesn’t provide any nourishment, originally it was used to cure illness, and the first president of the United States, George Washington grew it.2 Today, an acre of tobacco can be sold for approximately thirty-five hundred dollars an acre, making it one of the most profitable crops to grow.2 Historically, tobacco played an important role in the founding of the United States, during the revolutionary war, Benjamin Franklin was able to secure a loan from France using tobacco as collateral.1 So, in a sense early colonist used tobacco to secure Americas independence.1 Today, tobacco still plays an important role in providing money to the United States, with approximately one hundred billion dollars being paid annually in taxes. 2 However, it is the single largest contributor to controllable cause of death in the United States and is the only product that when used properly will kill you.

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586 Words | 3 Pages

In this paper I will discuss the issue of torture. More precisely, i will be looking at “The abolition of torture” by Sullivan and “The truth about torture: it’s time to be honest about doing a terrible thing” by Krauthammer. I will be arguing that Sullivan presents a better case than Krauthammer on the issue of whether a liberal democratic community ought to ever resort to torture, because i feel that Sullivan presents strong points and Krauthammer presents weak ones. I will begin by outlining the key points in Krauthammer’s argument, and then outline the points in Sullivan’s argument.

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962 Words | 4 Pages

In this article the author asks the question as to whether torture is a viable source in getting information. Since there is other moral ways of getting information. Some of these methods have shown to be more efficient. They also leave the victim’s mind intact. Janoff-Bulman, Ronnie.

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890 Words | 4 Pages

The kidnapper was prosecuted and sentenced to life imprisonment; however the officer ‘was also prosecuted and convicted of violating the kidnappers rights’ (Sandel, 2011). This presents an interesting moral dilemma, can torture ever be justified? And was the officer acting in a morally respectable way? In this essay I will answer these questions by analysing the arguments which justify or condemn his actions, from both the utilitarian and deontological perspectives.

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1000 Words | 4 Pages

In 2002, Magnus Gäfgen abducted the eleven year old Jakob von Metzler, the son of a prominent Frankfurt banker (Harvard University, 2011). When the kidnapper was captured by the police, he refused to tell where he had hidden the boy, leading the deputy police chief Wolfgang Daschner to threaten Gäfgen with tortue (Harvard University, 2011). In the midst of the media hysteria a question of morality emerged: was the threat of torture justified in trying to save the boy's life? Whereas utilitarian ethics would assert that the threat is justified if saving the innocent boy's life maximizes overall utility; Kant’s deontological theory of absolute ends dictates respect for the criminal’s human dignity regardless of his crime (Sandel, 2009). This

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