Ticking bombs torture and the analogy with self-defense pdf

Ticking bombs, torture, and the analogy with self defense, daniel j. But fairness and respect for persons should have a place alongside equality in from psy 101 at grand valley state university. But the circumstances that would make it tolerable are unrealistic in philosophically interesting ways. Although standard ethical views categorize intentional torture as morally wrong, the ticking time bomb ttb scenario is frequently offered as a legitimate counterexample that justifies the use of torture. It is unrealistic to think we can predict when torture will be effective and containable. Ticking bombs, torture, and the analogy with self defense.

The morality of capital punishment, walter berns 34. In on the ethics of torture, uwe steinhoff provides a complete account of the philosophical debate surrounding this highly contentious subject. Arguably, both examples are realistic, albeit the terrorist ticking bomb. The defense of necessity and powers of the government. Ticking bombs, torture, and the analogy with selfdefense, american philosophical quarterly 44. Carl cohen the case for the use of animals in biomedical research 56.

The problem arises when the victim is an innocent bystander or dedicated enemy, falling under these two categories would mean that the victim will not give information being. Ticking bombs, torture, and the analogy with selfdefense request. An introductory anthology, second edition, is a remarkably accessible, concise, and engaging introduction to moral philosophy. Most importantly, he has carefully edited the articles so that they will be exceptionally clear and understandable to. This unique introduction shows students how to do philosophy by first analyzing textsidentifying ethical positions and the arguments that support themand then. Philosophical ethics phil 3000 summer 2017, session ii. Torture, necessity, selfdefense and john yoos fundamental. Gross, michael, 2009, modern dilemmas of modern war. Torture, necessity, selfdefense and john yoos fundamental dishonesty 28. The death penalty as a symbolic issue, stephen nathanson g.

The problems of torture can be illustrated with the ticking bomb scenario. The most common argument in favor of torture in the current literature is the ticking bomb argument. Ticking bombs, torture, and the analogy with self defense created date. Some argue in times of crisislike an imminent terrorist attacktorture is necessary. In terrorism, ticking timebombs, and torture, fritz allhoff demonstrates the weakness of the case against torture. Claudia card, ticking bombs and interrogations philpapers. Loss of human rights it might be responded that the case is stll performing an evil action therefore the torturer is preventing the terroritst from performing an action causing a conscious action intuitively it is. Ticking bomb scenario defusing the ticking bomb scenario reaffirms and re inforces the absolute and nonderogable prohibition of torture and all other forms of cruel, inhuman or degrad ing treatment or punishment, against challenges based on the socalled ticking bomb scenario. The general consensus among philosophers is that the use of torture is never justified. Ticking bombs, torture, and the analogy with self defense under what circumstances does hill think that interrogational torture would be morally permissible. All papers, assignments, and exams are to include the students fordham id. A critical thinking approach with readings combines guiding commentary and questions with a rich selection of concise, carefully edited, and accessible readings on ethical theory and contemporary moral issues.

Hill ticking bombs, torture, and the analogy with self defense 59. The problem that even the most virtuous people face when thinking about torture is whether there is ever a case when a good result produced by torture. Hill 880 ticking bombs, torture, and the analogy with selfdefense 880 57. Torture involves the deliberate infliction of intense pain for coercive or punishment reasons. Ticking bombs, torture, and the analogy with selfdefense 397 in this case one. Under what circumstances does hill think that interrogational torture would be morally permissible. This argument closely examines the moral isomorphism between cases of immediate and delayed selfdefense, showing that in both cases lethal. Ticking bombs, torture, and analogy with selfdefense daniel hill you can have different moral opinions for different cases never permissible to torture unless pain is intended for their benefit. Hills essay ticking bombs, torture, and the analogy with self defense also perceives torture as impermissible unless it can be met with coercion similar to shues constraints of possible compliance. Torture can be defined as, the officially sanctioned infliction of intense suffering, aimed at forcing someone to do or say something against his or her will.

Table of contents for ethics the library of congress. Cahn brings together a rich, balanced, and wideranging collection of forty classic and contemporary readings. Torture, selfdefense, interrogation, terrorism, ticking. Ticking bombs, torture, and the analogy with selfdefense. Linked bibliography for the sep article torture by seumas miller. The shue piece places torture within rawls framework of fairness. Introduction one reads in the press that the agents of many countries, and, indeed, many private individuals, engage in torture to coerce others into performing certain actions, frequently the divulging of information interrogational torture. The intention to cause pain self defense terrorist in action interruption action prevented self defense vs torture scenarios torture reflexes. The security services know that he knows where the bomb is, but he is refusing to divulge its whereabouts. An analogous argument holds that human decisionmakers are. Alan dershowitz, a prominent american defense attorney, surprised some. Hill, daniel, 2007, ticking bombs, torture and the analogy with selfdefence, american philosophical quarterly, 44.

It uses pain, deprivation and humiliation to shatter a person, forcing her to act against felt loyalties, against conviction, and against conscience. I offer a nonutilitarian argument to ethically justify torture in specific kinds of interrogative cases. Mcpherson torture henry shue ticking bombs, torture, and the analogy with selfdefense daniel j. Others point out that the tickingbomb torture proponents adopt an extremely.

Discussion questions argument reconstruction exercises ch. History, theory, and contemporary issues, fifth edition, features sixtynine selections organized into three parts, providing instructors with great flexibility in designing and teaching a variety of courses in moral philosophy. In addition, the selfdefense scenario is irrelevant to this debate because in all the other situations mentioned so far, there is a certain amount of leverage over the opponent for example, being able to torture the person in custody or having the weapons and means to attack the opposing belligerents, while in this case, you are at a clear. Clare chambers 2008 criminal law and philosophy 2 1. Ticking bombs, torture, and the analogy with selfdefense daniel j. Torture is wrong, but it is the lesser of two wrongs in the ttb. This argument closely examines the moral isomorphism between cases of immediate and delayed self defense, showing that in both cases lethal. Hill, ticking bombs, torture, and the analogy with. The ticking time bomb scenario is a thought experiment that has been used in the ethics debate over whether torture can ever be justified.

Hill the morality of capital punishment walter berns the death penalty as a symbolic issue stephen nathanson pornography, oppression, and freedom helen e. The ready collaborator would have the least to lose since they are not entirely dedicated. Hill and others published ticking bombs, torture, and the analogy with selfdefense find, read and cite all the research. Abortion and conscientious objection abortion and conscientious objection hill, daniel j. A known terrorist is in the captivity of security services of a certain country. Youll take eight quizzes to test your comprehension of some of the reading. A philosophical analysis, fritz allhoff argues that if interrogational torture is able to prevent a terrorist threat, it is justifiable. Ticking bombs, torture, and the analogy with selfdefense by. Ticking bombs, torture, and the analogy with selfdefense article in american philosophical quarterly 444. In addition, the self defense scenario is irrelevant to this debate because in all the other situations mentioned so far, there is a certain amount of leverage over the opponent for example, being able to torture the person in custody or having the weapons and means to attack the opposing belligerents, while in this case, you are at a clear. The terrorist reflexes to rub her eyes thereby diffusing. Ticking bomb stories depict torture as an emergency exception, but use intuitions.

However, research shows torture can elicit very different responses in people. We are staring into an abyss, and no one can escape the necessity of a response. Senator schumer might justify torture to find the ticking bomb. Aug 16, 2014 although standard ethical views categorize intentional torture as morally wrong, the ticking time bomb ttb scenario is frequently offered as a legitimate counterexample that justifies the use of torture. Steinhoffs position is that torture is sometimes, under certain narrowly circumscribed conditions, justified, basing his argument on the right to selfdefense.

Torture, assassination and blackmail in an age of asymmetric conflict, cambridge. Ticking bombs, torture, and the analogy with selfdefense jstor. The ticking time bomb scenario is a thought experiment that has been used in the ethics debate. As a thought experiment, there is no need that the scenario be plausible. Rather i seek to analyse the precise legal status of the exemptions afforded under british law to those with a conscientious objection to abortion. Second, i will criticize the liberal ideology of torture and suggest that ticking bomb stories are built on a set of assumptions that amount to intellectual fraud parts iii and iv.

Ticking bombs, torture, and the analogy with selfdefense, daniel j. Torture is like slavery and unlike murder and genocide in that it is not inconceivable that torture might be justifiable. Shue, torture hill, ticking time bombs, torture, and the analogy with selfdefense exam 3 week 4 july 31 virtue ethics aristotle, the nature of virtue driver, virtue ethics singer, famine, af. For example, in terrorism, ticking timebombs, and torture. Just a few blogs acs weblog alas, a blog althouse arts and letters daily atrios eschaton bad attitudes bill of health buzz machine cato.

Aug 03, 2007 the scenario the ticking bomb problem. In this scenario, a bomb has been placed in a city by a terrorist, and the only way to defuse the bomb in time is to torture a terrorist in custody for information. It asks us to imagine a case where only torture can prevent the detonation of a bomb that will kill millions. Now whilst torture is illegal in international law, it is obviously still prevalent in the world today, the issue of torture had really been ignored and accepted as wrong for years until the terrorism attacks and the ticking bomb scenario. Aug 14, 2017 in terrorism, ticking time bombs, and torture, fritz allhoff demonstrates the weakness of the case against torture. Can torture be justified journal of military ethics. The political issues analyzed in the reader are foreign aid, military torture, and gun ownership, though any set of political issues could be substituted with applicable alternative readings. Response to claudia card, ticking bombs and interrogation. Firstly, an instinctive kneejerk moral reaction to a problem often yields. Hill, ticking bombs, torture, and the analogy with selfdefense. Firstly, an instinctive kneejerk moral reaction to a problem often yields the wrong ans wer.

The situation is morally isomorphic to the nuclear bomb scenario. Quizlet flashcards, activities and games help you improve your grades. A suicide bomber in the act of detonating her device is sprayed with mace. Exploring ethics an introductory anthology 2nd edition. Failure to inform the professor promptly will result in loss of attendance points for the day. The normalization of special powers from northern ireland to britain. These timed quizzes will be in ecollege and cannot easily be made up. The morality of capital punishment, walter berns 37.

I offer a nonutilitarian argument to ethically justify torture in. Hill and others published ticking bombs, torture, and the analogy with selfdefense find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate. Spanning 2,500 years of ethical theory, the first part, historical sources, ranges from ancient greece to the twentieth century. Applying this reasonableness test to the ticking bomb scenario, torturing the ticking bomb terrorist would qualify as an unreasonable seizure of the suspect in violation of the fourth amendment. Balkinization posts on torture, interrogation, detention, war powers, and olc the antitorture memos arranged by topic recent posts torture and the ticking time bomb. Ticking bombs, torture, and the analogy with selfdefense american philosophical quarterly, vol. An introductory anthology, second edition, is a remarkably accessible, concise. Fritz allhoff, terrorism, ticking timebombs, and torture. But fairness and respect for persons should have a place. Hill, ticking bombs, torture, and the analogy with selfdefense pp. Torture, by contrast, systematically dehumanizes its victim by attacking the center of her personality. What does hill think is the key difference between cases of selfdefense and similar cases of interrogational torture. Hill ticking bombs, torture, and the analogy with selfdefense 59.