Torture and Ethics

Table of Contents

The concept of torture3

General ethical perspective on Torture3

Torture in the American society and violation of moral standards5

Torture and human rights violation7

Ethical theories and perspectives on torture8

Ontological ethics8

Deontological ethics8

Utilitarianism9

Justification of torture10

Natural law10

References11

Torture and Ethics

The concept of torture

The word torture is defined as “the practice or action that is aimed to hurt someone through infliction of severe physical pain, and injury, as well as psychological disruption”. Torture has been a historic phenomenon from ancient times. The word torture is driven from the Latin word 'torquere' which means to twist completely. It mostly includes actions leading to physical and physiological injury, beating, using mind-altering substances or drugs, electric shocks, sexual assault, as well as, all actions that encompass of hurting the physical well-being and mental peace of a living thing (Costanzo & Gerrity, 2009).

Torture has its roots engraved into the history of mankind on this planet. According to the guidelines of international law, torture is an animosity against human rights. Ethical definition of torture deals with the context with human hurt. Ethics presents a definition of ethics which maintains that “the conduct of infliction of excruciating pain, encompassing punishment, revenge, as well as, mental and physical agony on another living being; in order to, get a confession or take revenge as an expression of sheer cruelty.” Torture encompasses of anything that has to do with causing pain and suffering on another person.

General ethical perspective on Torture

Torture involves intense infliction, and physical as well as mental abuse. It involves hurting the other being to make him act and think in desired way. Ethical perspective against torture is very hostile, and no ethical implication advocates the act of torturing humans, except for, commitment of a crime or confession of an act against the society. The lines and bounds of ethics in general, condemn deliberate torture. Ethics does not allow any flexibility for those who are found to be breaching the social contract and the responsibility that it entrusts them for safeguarding others rights. Following is the ethical perspective held against torture:

Induces conditioning: torture induces conditioning that makes a person do exactly as implied upon him, and therefore losses the ability to act things on his own. It paralyzes the person in terms of acting as he wills.

Causes psychotic disturbance: researches have shown that tortures, be in any form, creates neurotic as well as psychotic disturbance. A person before undergoing torture in entirely different from a person which he becomes after facing the torture.

Pain and disability: the physical agony inflicted through tortures and torments are very difficult to let go. Torture usually resulting in physically disabling or damaging its victim. People often end up losing their abilities and organs for entire course of life.

No moral justification: torture is morally unacceptable under all circumstances. It involves severity of agony of living beings, to make them do exactly as desired. In the normative sense, it is no way justified to convince people for something out of severest agony and ...