Is torture ethical

Document Type:Article

Subject Area:Philosophy

Document 1

Mill’s utilitarianism is primarily characterized by happiness and consequentialism. It is a theory that is mainly based on the utility principle; any action is right provided that it enhances greatest good for the biggest number possible. Thus, consequentiality moral reasoning is the basis for utilitarianism. Contrarily, Humanity and universal are two formulations of Kant’s categorical imperative. Kant’s humanity formulation means that it is immoral for a person to use another person just as a means to an end, and one has moral obligation to choose an end that is equal for everyone (Nyholm, 2012). Thus, the suspect must be treated as a final means of obtaining certain information, which deems it immoral. Secondly, an act can only be termed moral if one can rationally will it to the moral law.

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Regarding this case, suspected individuals are the ones suspected to torture. As one is only tortured on accounts of suspicion, the lawmaker cannot be able to will this into a moral law as provided under international formulation. According to Frieds (Block 2010), torture is illegal because it is wrong, but it is still being used despite the fact that it is immoral, unethical and illegal. As much as I believe that torture is immoral, exceptional instances exist. For instance, I think that if a suspect has confessed to be involved an imminent atrocity it is reasonable to use torture to save the million lives that are at risk. This argument leads us to the next article. It is justifiable to subject certain class of criminals to torture.

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If it is meant to obtain information from unpleasant fellow to stop an imminent atrocity, then I think torture should be used. d) indicates that consequentialist moral reasoning is the basis for utilitarianism. Hence, the writer is using consequentiality moral reasoning and John Stuart Mill would likely support this point of argument. However, torture and collateral damage are not equal, because when a bomb wants to be dropped, calculation of the coverage area can be done, but there is no way of ascertaining the damage that torturing can cause to a suspect. So, what is the solution? According to Alan Dershowitz (Inskeep, 2006), points out that torture should be governed by rules. The government should acknowledge that it tortures suspects. It is intricate for every individual to examine torture, more so when it comes to dealing with suspected terrorists.

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However, it is imperative to remember that torture can be examined in other various perspectives. With all these considerations, the best way to deal with this issue is to create rules that govern the use of torture in a country. In my view, this will be the most effective and humane solution. It will be even effective and reasonable if only the president is allowed to carry this burden. php?storyId=5512634 Block, M. (September 10th, 2010). Because it is Wrong: A Meditation on Torture. All Things Considered: National Public Radio Interview. Retrieved from: https://www. Moral Reasoning. Retrieved from: http://www. damianstorey. com/moral-reasoning Sandel, M. (2005, September). 42/93978/nyholm_1. pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y Lacewing, M. (n. d). Utilitarianism. Jurisprudence Rev. https://openscholarship. wustl.

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