Torture is something that is known as wrong internationally. Torture is “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 right to be free from any kind of torture as it can be found in many different human rights treaties around the world. The treaties show that all of the thoughts about torture are pointing away from the right to torture someone no matter what the case is. In American society we do have a high morality on life and how we should be treated. Torture is something that may not be written …show more content…
“International norms in this array of treaties and customary international law impose ranges of obligations on states. For instance, states must not only refrain from using torture, they must also take strong positive measures to prevent and punish torture” (McKay, 2005, pg.1037). If we have the right to be free from torture in here in America we believe that we as Americans shall not be tortured by anyone else in any other country even if it is in a time of war. We believe that people that are in the custody of the American’s shall have the same basic rights that we give our citizens. This means that someone that is a person of high interest or value they shall not be tortured for the simple fact that they may have information that is being looked for. For the longest time torture is something that all nations view as wrong no matter what is going on. Most nations also want what is right for most people and most nations do now want people to be tortured. This means that all nations need to come together and figure out how they feel about torture and work together to make sure that this form of punishment is not being carried out. Everyone has to be onboard for torture to stop
Bercher's writing goes back to the core idea of "They Say, I Say". He starts
In order to assess the morality of torture, one needs to define it. According to the Tokyo Declaration of 1975 torture is “the deliberate, systematic, or wanton infliction of physical or mental suffering by one or more persons acting alone or on the orders of any authority, to force another person to yield information, to make a confession or for any other reason.” This definition’s generality severely limits harmless interrogations by police. The United Nations changed the definition to include severe physical suffering, deliberate intentions, and also added that the action cannot be part of a lawful sanction. The US later revised the definition “to include only the most extreme pain” in 200...
Interrogational torture is one of the many tough ethical questions that people debate about in the United States. Is it right or is it wrong? Many believe that the United States does not practice intense interrogational acts such as torture. Many people have fought to abolish any form of torture while many fight to keep some forms of it to help keep the peace. Whether you believe in it or not, torture is and will always be an ethical dilemma that comes up.
Torture, as defined by the Oxford dictionary is the action of forcing a person to expose something through pain and suffering (“Definition of Torture in English”, 1). It has been a very effective means of extracting information. The practice of torture was originally used on slaves to increase productivity. It later proved to be an efficient approach to force individuals to disclose information. Many civilizations have used this practice throughout history, each with their own unique way. The Greeks used a technique known as the brazen bull. This approach consisted of a victim to be placed in an iron bull and steamed alive (Blinderman, 1). A very gruesome and agonizing approach but widely accepted at the time because it delivered results. Torture, though a controversial topic today, should be acceptable, because firstly, it can lead to the gathering crucial intelligence, secondly, it is a quick approach to gain said information, and finally, it is can be sanctioned in an ethical aspect.
The issue of torture is nothing new. It was done in the past and it’s done now in the 21st century. Without saying one side is right and the other side is wrong, let us discuss the part that we agree on and find common ground. We as Americans want to protect Americans from harms. So how do we prevent that from happening without torturing? It is impossible to get answer without some sort of questioning and intimidation techniques, since we know captured prisoners during war are not easily going to give up information. We know the enemy we face doesn’t follow the Geneva Convention or any law that pertains to war, so does that mean we shouldn’t also follow the Geneva Convention also, which prohibits torture? Of course not, because we want to be example for the world. Republicans argue that we have to do whatever is necessary to keep Americans safe, and Democrats argue it goes against our values and makes us look bad. We as Americans, as leader of the free world we
There are a lot of disturbing aspects of torture, just thinking about the dehumanizing, disfiguring process is enough to make any normal persons stomach turn. However when I say there are disturbing aspects of torture I am referring to the process (or lack of). There is no protocol for torture. There are no trial, no rules, guidelines, or script that a torturer must follow. It is free
As Shunzo Majima describes it: “According to Kantian deontology, torture cannot be morally justified if an individual’s humanity and dignity are denied through torture and the torture victim is used merely as a means for achieving the purpose of torture” (Majima, 2012, p. 138). Because of the way torture gravely violates a person’s autonomy and treats them only as a means of getting information or for some other end, it is considered inherently wrong in the eyes of deontology. People who are tortured are no longer seen as human or respected as one; instead, they are seen only as tools that can be manipulated and used in order to achieve a certain result. This, to deontology, is morally
First, torture can be used to quickly gather reliable information.Most criminals all have a wide mind set of information. A fugitive under pressure may give officers more information than they even knew to ask (Messerli 4). The correct information is important in generally everything. The reliability of information can make or break a sports injury, or it could save or kill many lives. Torture gives the tortured many reasons to tell the right information. If the criminal gives the correct data it can guarantee many lives (Messerli 1). A common question when dealing with the topic torture is, “Why would criminals give in to torture?” Well, Criminals, fugitives, terrorists, whatever you decide to call them are also people. All people no matter what your feelings are can although feel, therefore no matter who the person, torture would be painful. Human’s natural instinct is to stop the pain, men...
They have fought for years to abolish torture, but others still fight to use some forms of torture while they attempt keeping the peace. Whether you believe in using torture or not, it still is and will always be an ethical issue. Torture as defined by Jocelyn Pollock is “the deliberate infliction of violence and, through violence, severe mental and/or physical suffering upon individuals” (Pollock, 2014). Christopher Tindale is quoted by Bob Brecher in Torture and the Ticking Bomb, and his description of torture is “any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from that person or a third person information or confession, punishing that person for an act committed or suspected to have been committed, or intimidation or dehumanizing that person or other persons” (Brecher,
Cesare Beccaria discusses the issue of torture in his work An Essay on Crimes and Punishments. He states that either a crime is certain or uncertain, and in either circumstance, torture is not a legitimate punishment (Beccaria 530). When a crime has certainly been committed and already has a punishment assigned to it by law, it is useless to torture because you do not need to torture the convicted person to get a confession. If the proof is insufficient to convict the person in question of committing the crime, “it is wrong to torture an innocent person, such as the law adjudges him to be, whose crimes are not yet proved” (Beccaria 530). Torture, therefore, is not acceptable in any case of punishment and should not be used.
America prides itself in treated all individuals humanely and fairly, and even one person under force suffering is against what America stands for. America should never justify torture based on our beliefs we were built on. Bruce Anderson says, “A man can retain his human dignity in front of a firing squad or on the scaffold: not in a torture chamber. Torturers set out to break their victim: to take human being and reduce him to a whimpering wreck” (Anderson 1). America does not believe in breaking someone down, but rather build them up. When an American messes up, in jail we continue to build them up. We help them get a college degree, try to work some of their unwanted qualities out, and give them the opportunities to better themselves. America is supposed to be the leader and teach the world that torture is not the answer. That is why nearly a quarter of American people believe torture should never be used of justified (ProQuest 2). Americans still hold the core values that this beautiful country was built
Torture is not a method that should be used by law enforcement. The use of torture by law enforcement personnel is unethical. To prove this we will have to examine several different areas. First, one has to consider what torture is. Second, the ethical implication for the use of torture. Finally, can the information from the use of torture considered to be credible.
Throughout times and with the change of our world leaders, definitions, legislature and methods have all evolved and changed. Definitions often vary between political views and an agreed upon meaning will never be defined. The debate is focused around pain and suffering versus injury as well as effectiveness, which will be discussed more later. As explained perfectly in an article written by Phillip A. Quigley, ”… a new battle emerged at the forefront of American media attention: those who argued for the continued implementation of "enhanced interrogation" versus those who were vehemently opposed to "torture" and who called for its immediate end. The divide was based on political, legal, and ethical grounds, and those involved in the debate were inextricably entrenched in their respective positions. This battle lingers on today even as the GWOT has transitioned into the so-called "Overseas Contingency Operation" and the new presidential administration of President Barrack Obama has taken office. Whether or not these policies will change is yet to be determined, but thus far, the debate has been ripe with academics, lawyers, media commentators, and politicians espousing all form of opinion and recommendation”. More Democratic/Liberal views believe that torture and enhanced interrogation techniques are one in the ...
It seems with Trump’s presidency comes torture. The debate on whether the U.S. should return to torture methods in foreign interrogations has been buzzing since Gina Haspel was nominated for the CIA and spoke out against torturing the detained foreigners. She stands for empathetic tactics to elicit information, Whereas Trump feels that torture would be an efficient alternative. Tortue in itself is unethical and currently illegal in the U.S., the methods can be temporarily painful or even life-threatening and should only be used as a last resort in extremely
From a moral standpoint, torture is wrong and unacceptable. Many religious people are against this act of violence because they see it as a violation of the dignity of a human being. Humans have the right to not have intentional harm upon themselves from others. The ban on torture furthermore supports this certain right. Not only does torture violate people’s rights, but they also violate the demands of justice. In the past, many of our nation’s people have been tortured and we have had a problem with it; but when it’s not you the one that is being tortured, it seems to be fine. Have you heard of the golden rule, “Treat others only as you consent to being treated in the same situation? (7)” This applies very well to this problem.