Thought experiment: Is it right to torture our enemies for valuable information?

[Anonymous]

Updates

+1 y

This question is rather interesting because people who are against this aren’t against it because of the lack of proof, rather, based on morality and principle it isn’t the right thing to do no matter what.

[HighlyVolatile]

A problem I find is that it's rarely guaranteed that they actually possess this valuable information let alone willing to spill it under torture even if they possess it. What is almost guaranteed as I see it is that we'll be left with people questioning if we're any better than our enemies.

[NathanDavis]

No, it is not right

and for one to think this is right and acceptable, intrinsically, you do have to be alright with these cruel tortures being done to those you love and care about, which is even more wrong

and that is the foundation of all conventions that prohibit this specific type of cruelty

[NathanDavis]

based on your edit/update... now I am curious and I have a question, that you might want to answer or not

I get that you're in the military and all but, have you ever seen actual action in actual combat and experienced it? or have you just been deployed to military bases around the world?

[England4eva]

I believe and always will believe in humanity. My soul was put on this earth for peaceful purposes 💎🕊

[Asker]

That’s very nice, honestly, but the world is not always a peaceful place and not every situation needs a peaceful solution.

[England4eva]

There is always a peaceful tactic that will work, if you look hard enough it will appear. We don’t just have a handful of options 🙂
Follow Sadhguru, he’s the man with this sorta thing 🙏

[England4eva]

But it’s good to read your takes, I know you love your books plod 🙂

[Asker]

You need to have more balance in your life don’t you think?

You need peace and you also need violence.

Yin & Yang

[England4eva]

I’m a yin kinda girl 👧Enough yang out there naturally, without me endorsing it

[Andres77]

Waterboarding is not torture.

No, torture is not right.

Waterboarding, fine.

[OddBeMe]

Thought experiment: have your mom pinch the crap out of you until you admit to being the grassy knoll shooter.

[Anonymous]

That looks like an interesting book. The illustration is of a print from the Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648).

[Pterodon]

The problem with torture is you can still get false information

[exitseven]

Yes, whatever it takes.

[whereismyjohnny]

Nope.

[SaoirseS]

Nope.

[Asker]

Why not?

[SaoirseS]

For starters, because the Law of Land Warfare prohibits it, and legislation passed in the wake of OIF prohibits it by any government agency. In short, it’s sadistic and ineffective.

[Asker]

What amount of proof would you need to prove that it is in fact effective?

Or perhaps you do not care for the amount of proof because you consider it too deplorable to even entertain.

Personally, I’ve found that some who are so against this do not care for actual cases, incidents, or situations in which torture can be justified and effective.

They have, at base, a huge issue with torture in and of itself so that it’s not a matter of how effective is it, rather, it is just an evil thing and evil things cannot be justified even if the ends are good.

[SaoirseS]

Re your update. You made that conclusion before you asked the question.

[Still-alive]

i'd like to think we as humans are above such barbarity and cruelty in our age... at least we oughtta strive to be. so i heavily agree with @SaoirseS

[Asker]

@SaoirseS

I didn’t, it’s just based on my experience with this topic.

As someone quite passionate about philosophy, the topic of torture comes up quite bit within this field believe it or not.

From what I’ve seen, those opposed to torture quite often are opposed to the act of torture itself, regardless of whether or not it produces good results that will help good people.

To them it’s just an evil act

[SaoirseS]

You missed the point entirely.

[Asker]

@Still-alive

Yes, most people are rather civil in civil or comfortable situations.

Everyone is capable of doing things they thought they couldn’t do once they’re in uncivil or uncomfortable situations.

[Asker]

@SaoirseS

How did I miss the point?

[Still-alive]

"Everyone is capable of doing things they thought they couldn’t do once they’re in uncivil or uncomfortable situations."

sure. still doesn't justify it though...

[Asker]

@Still-alive

In this case, it would depend on the situation.

Also, there’s such a thing as being justified in the moral sense and legal sense.

Also, depends on where you are in the world.

[Still-alive]

doesn't depend on anything. it is wrong regardless of any circumstances period.

[Asker]

Alright, thank you for sharing your thoughts.