The Ethical Theory Of Torture - 1111 Words

I have decided to write about the topic of torture, and will argue both sides of this ethical dilemma. To begin let’s talk about what defines torture. Torture is defined as one inflicting a great amount of physical pain or a great deal of mental anxiety and suffering on another person or persons. Torture became widely talked about, and a greatly debated ethical issue, when Inmates at a detainment camp at Guantanamo Bay were interrogated in the attempt to gather information to prevent domestic terror attacks or to gather information on al-Qaida forces in the Middle East. The base became famous when it was discovered that inmates at the facility were being tortured in ways that did not comply with the Geneva Convention. This brought forth the ethical issue of torture and sparked debate around the world on whether we should be conducting torture for national purposes or if it poses an ethical dilemma worldwide. I think the idea of torture can be considered justifiable under certain circumstances. The ethical theory of utilitarianism is a philosophical viewpoint which I believe would condone the idea of torture. Utilitarianism is a consequentialist view of ethics that focuses on the outcomes or consequences of certain actions, rather than the motivations or the character of the person taking the action. The core belief behind utilitarianism is the principle of happiness. This means actions should be based on their morality and based on how much utility is created. So howShow MoreRelatedEssay on Code of Ethics and Security Case Study1600 Words   |  7 PagesYears in Torture Case†, we evaluate from four different perspectives the different ethical theories; ethical relativism, ethical egoism, deontological ethics and ontological ethics to determine how the different perspectives support or condemn the conduct in this  case study. The case involves the brutal sodomizing of a black male Haitian immigrant, Abner Louima by two white New York police officers in 1997 (Hays, 2000). Upon review of each perspective, we will recommend which ethical theory resolvesRead MoreEssay about The Ethics of Torture1633 Words   |  7 Pages In the United States legal system, torture is currently defined as â€Å"an act committed by a person acting under the color of law specifically intended to inflict severe physical or mental pain or suffering (other than pain or suffering incidental to lawful sanctions) upon another person within his custody or physical control.† as defined by Office of the Law Revision Counsel, U.S. House of Representatives (US Code, 1) Though this is a seemingly black and white definition, the conditional â€Å"†¦otherRead MoreAnalysis Of Ayer s Theory Of Emotivism1490 Words   |  6 Pages Ayer’s argument in Emotivism avoids Moore’s argument. In A.J. Ayer’s theory of Emotivism, he gives the modified version of Verification Principle and in my essay I will try to accomplish how using this modified version of verification principle. We can set our standards for the moral knowledge. A.J. Ayer, responded to the argument of moral knowledge with his theory of Emotivism. In his theory, A.J. Ayer states that ethical judgments are merely expressions of emotion. Moral judgements do not holdRead MoreTorture and Ethics1447 Words   |  6 PagesTour Torture and Ethics Paper CJA 530 January 31st, 2011 Eddie Koen Torture and Ethics Paper Torture is something that is known as wrong internationally. Torture is â€Å"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 rightRead MoreEssay on Death or Life1061 Words   |  5 Pagesdegrading treatment or punishment. First, Because one commits a crime does not justify us also committing a crime. In some instances we use horrible techniques to get information.† The deontological theory states that people should adhere to their obligations and duties when analyzing an ethical dilemma. This means that a person will follow his or her obligations to another individual or society because upholding ones duty is what is considered ethically correct. â€Å"(Rainbow) Does that mean thatRead MoreA Man Without Ethics Is A Wild Beast Loosed Upon The World Essay1745 Words   |  7 Pagesto evaluate different ethical approaches to find the best resolution. Moreover, one should say that an individual should examine the case through a lens of three major ethical theories, namely deontology, utilitarianism, and virtue ethics. Therefore, when presenting a viable solution to the case, it is essential to explore central premises of each theory while determining them to the overall notion of moral demandin gness. Furthermore, it is crucial to compare mentioned ethical approaches to determineRead MoreEthics Of Torture And Torture1113 Words   |  5 Pages Ethics of Torture The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines torture as the act of causing severe physical pain as a form of punishment or as a way to force someone to do or say something. But what would one call morally acceptable torture? Is sleep depriving a criminal in order to find out the location of a missing person wrong? Does waterboarding a terrorist to find out information count as a morally correct reason to torture? Recently the C.I.A. released a detailed torture report to the publicRead MoreThe Moral Principles Of Torture991 Words   |  4 Pagesprinciples of torture. Torture has been carried out or sanctioned by individuals, groups, and states throughout history from ancient times to modern day, and forms of torture can vary greatly in duration from only a few minutes to several days or longer. (Torture, 2016). Torture is the act of inflicting excruciating pain, as punishment or revenge, as means of getting a confession or information, or for sheer cruelty. (Torture, 2016). Now that we have an idea behind the meaning of torture, we need toRead MoreIs Utilitarianism Too Demanding?1046 Words   |  5 PagesUtilitarianism is clearly a demanding theory. The theory can sometimes fail to live up to expectations, if the demands of the theory have not been maximised for the sum total of welfare in the universe. When there is singular distress some hardships cannot be alleviated, providing that per forming an alternative action cannot do even more good. John Mackie argued utilitarianism as an â€Å"ethics of fantasy†. A theory that is so demanding must turn out to be counterproductive. If all requirements wereRead MoreEthical Positions Research Paper : Torture1517 Words   |  7 PagesEthical Positions research paper Olivier Ishtiaq Torture Since -9/11, torture has been official US policy by George Bush at the highest levels of government. On September 17, 2001, George Bush signed a secret finding empowering CIA to Capture, Kill, or Interrogate Al-Queda Leaders. (Lendman, 2008). It also authorized establishing a secret global facilities to detain and interrogate them without guidelines on proper treatment. In the same time, Bush approved a secret high-value target list of