The moral issues surrounding torture are a source of great interest for me. There are many reasons for this. I find pain and suffering to be very fascinating, and the way in which these two things interact with the human body and mind is connected to my thought process surrounding torture. I do not believe that the use of torture for interrogative or punitive purpose can ever be legally executed, but I am still unable to honestly say that I believe that using torture is morally wrong in all circumstances.
There are multiple reasons why torture should not or could not be legalized. One reason for this, and possibly the most pertinent, is that studies conclusively show that torture is not an effective means of interrogation. Considering interrogative torture is a major issue within the United States today, it is important that we realize that it is a technique that is not effective.
That being said, torture has caused human beings to give up information in the past. This causes a problem because now there exists a possibility, while small, that torture could cause an individual to share valuable information. For example, let’s imagine that an individual has kidnapped a young girl. Law enforcement apprehends the individual, but he refuses to tell where he is keeping her. Chances are that he will not tell where she is if tortured. But, the possibility remains that if all other interrogation means are exhausted, torture COULD cause him to give up where she is. While I know this might sound simple-minded, I am completely comfortable with using torture in this situation. This being has taken an innocent life into his hands and is willing to let her disappear from the earth, while we refuse to inflict physical pain upon him when the possibility exists that it may work.
I am saying that I am comfortable with torture in this situation, but because of the infinite scenarios and definitions of torture, I see the impossibility of legalizing such and act.
Torture as punishment is another issue that I cannot honestly come to a conclusion on. While the idea of punishment through torture seems like an appealing and useful tool at first in my mind, I do understand and fret over the fact that I do not want a government that disciplines through fear.
But in my mind, there still exists a problem. I understand that the criminals that would be subject to torture as punishment are products of their environment. But every human being is a product of their environment. This does not justify their action! If an individual was abused as a child, an “as a result” murders another human being, where do we stand? Who are we to say that some individuals need physical pain, or at least the possibility of physical pain, as a punishment in order for them to not commit a crime.
Basically, I do not really see a lot of hope. I do not see a society where there are no crimes ever existing. Therefore, there needs to exist some way to correct this problem, and I see no solution that could actually be enacted. The floor is open, if you have any ideas. Eye for an eye, education, torture, the current system, or some brilliant new correctional scheme, you pick.
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I think that one question that a society has to come to terms with is one that we addressed to some extent in class. And this is, if someone commits a certain act, are we to violate their human rights to gain some form of justice?
ReplyDeleteOf course there are certain societies that have embraced certain forms of punishment that might be considered torturous - an eye for an eye, limb for a limb, etc. But like you have said, as soon as I reach the conclusion that torture should never be used, regardless of the circumstances, the allure of the ticking time bomb situation tempts me to question my volition. This debate is one that will extend for some time to come.
Your final point is the reason why I think shame works as a very good substitute for physical, punitive measures. Shame not only takes away the margin for error (supposing that there are cases when the wrong person gets tortured) but it also allows those who perpetrate crimes against humanity to confront both themselves and their human community.
ReplyDeleteI agree that we will never know a world without crime. But I think Dev makes a very good point about a way to deal with this. Shame, at least in our discussions in class, has seemed to be a constructive generator for the way in which crimes are dealt with.
ReplyDeleteI think this shame talk brings up a good point in opposition to torture as punishment. Because mental or behavioral methods are available, and because we have a fairly strong understanding of certain types of psychology, it seems to me that there are plenty of methods of punishment that don't have to involve torture.
ReplyDeleteInterrogative torture is another can of worms altogether. Idunno.