The Morality of Torture Essay -- The Ethics of Torture

Torture is a controversial topic in today’s society. What is torture? Torture can be defined as, ‘the act of inflicting excruciating pain, as punishment or revenge, as a means of getting a confession or information, or for sheer cruelty.’(Dershowitz, A) According to international law, it is illegal to use torture in any situation of any kind. Though torture undoubtedly continues throughout the world, the moral argument prohibiting torture should or could be justified. However, the question of torture has resurfaced in the context of the â€Å"Is There A Torturous Road to Justice† mainly focusing on the attacks of 911. Seemingly, the topic of torture became more demanding after millions of lives lose and threaten after the attacks on the United States. The dilemma of torture is commonly expressed towards problem of the ‘ticking bomb terrorist.’ In this essay, I will argue that torture is unsubstantial conflicting as a moral and immoral belief. Many individuals would argue that torture is immorally wrong and views it as a malevolent form of punishment, but on the other hand, a solider fighting in war may see it as a justifiable action towards protecting themselves, other citizens, and the country. Nevertheless, if torture is so immoral, why is the topic so hard to explain? Within the society of social order, many people would say that torture is a shameful action for those who support it and or participate in agony. This may be valid, but this argument could be compared to other criminal scenarios. For instance, a person who commits a crime such as stealing a car and injuring someone or harming a person with the intent to kill, in this society these actions could be seen as immoral action. During the criminal sanction, they could... ... but it may be seen as a learned willing action to protect. Torturing a person in other words is seen as unconstitutional, but to understand why it is somewhat problematic, just imagine being in the position of a torturer and torture, both predicaments is understandable hard to bare with from a citizen standpoint. Mitigating the stance on torture becomes somewhat impossible, especially for those who carry out the action, and or for those that make the laws and pass them. Justifying this action is undoubtedly hard to differ between moral or immoral actions. In this situation as mentioned before, it seems that the lives of millions of individuals compensate one individual life. Works Cited Hinman, Lawrence M.. Contemporary moral issues: diversity and consensus. 3rd ed. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2005. Print.