1. Torture Research Paper
Torture has been practised for several centuries. Whether it was the Iron maiden or waterboarding,
its goal, inducing pain on a certain victim, has stayed the same. Despite all of our social
advancements, this heinous and barbaric act is continually defended and justified. Torture is a crime
against all living things and should never be practised.
Torture leaves psychological scars on the victim. These scars come when the tortured is faced with
the internal realization that they are causing their pain. This realization can force the victim to
"[embrace] the faith of their captors" in exchange for better treatment (Callimichi 2). The captors
could believe in something that the victim absolutely abhors, but because he is in such a dire
situation, he is willing to do whatever it takes to end his suffering. The scars also inhibit growth and
keep the victim from ever being able to move on. Even after the victim is in a safe place and away
from his tormentors, 'he will never again be at ease with the world'(VorbrГјggen and Baer 1). This
paranoia will lead the tortured to live a secluded live because the victim has had their faith in
humanity shattered (VorbrГјggen and Baer 1). Unfortunately, the...show more content...
It not only inflicts damage to the tortured, but also to torturer. The torturer becomes desensitized
and sees his actions as "a job" and "feels no guilt" (Wolfendale 9). This lack of empathy is not
caused by sadism, on the contrary, there is "no significant psychological difference" between a
torturer and a normal soldier (Wolfendale 4). This professional detachment is instead a barrier
formed by their psyche to stop them from being broken. The organization that tortures will also be
hurt. Because of the controversial nature of torture, the government will view their operations as
risky and "a subjective process" instead of viewing it as a basis of certifiable intelligence. Based on
this evidence, torture causes more harm than its potential
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2. Essay On Medieval Torture
Torture was used as a device in order to extract confessions, prolong death, punish suspects, satisfy
personal hatred, or even frighten opponents. Today, interrogations are used in order to obtain the
data needed. Interrogation is the act of questioning a suspect either formally or aggressively. The
more aggressive side of interrogations involves techniques that put the suspect under a series of
distress. Medieval torture techniques influence today's interrogations. Using the ideas from medieval
torture creates a different set of techniques that can extract truthful confessions without harming the
detainee and keeping within the parameters of the legal justice system. In today's interrogations, for
no permanent damage to be given, criminals are given time restraints. There are no limitations on
how many times it can be used in a sitting, however. Since the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights, the CIA found legal, humane ways to extract confessions and information from their
detainees. In medieval times, torture was used to remove criminal element in society. People
respected the display of force given. The punishment matched the crime committed so every civilian
knew the consequences. Interrogation techniques are matched with the crime committed, but aren't
put to the fullest...show more content...
Interrogations take place because suspects have information linking accomplices to a crime or an
agenda that needs to be revealed. The reason that it hasn't been completely replicated is the
effectiveness of it is drawn into examination. Torture is able to extract confessions but it is the truth
that is needed. As previously stated, techniques are needed to be proved effective but not so that
false confessions are being given by the innocent. Medieval torture uses devices that cause physical
harm because the victim are not supposed to live through
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3. Essay on Medieval Torture
Torture (Latin torquere, "to twist"), in law, infliction of severe bodily pain either as punishment, or
to compel a person to confess to a crime, or to give evidence in a judicial proceeding. Among
primitive peoples, torture has been used as a means of ordeal and to punish captured enemies.
Examination by torture, often called the "question," has been used in many countries as a judicial
method. It involves using instruments to extort evidence from unwilling witnesses.
In ancient Athens, slaves were always examined by torture, and for this reason their evidence was
apparently considered more valuable than that of freemen. A free Athenian could not be examined
by this method, but torture may have been used occasionally in executing...show more content...
It was last used in England in 1640 to compel a confession of treason. By the middle of the 18th
century legal torture was abolished in France, Prussia, Saxony (Sachsen), Austria, and Switzerland.
Under a papal bull issued in 1816 the use of torture was banned in Roman Catholic countries.
Torture in Europe through the Ages
The history of torture in Europe may seem at first to be a steady progression of barbarous tactics,
leading from one social purge to the next, but this is not completely the case. Torture has been used
in a progression from primitive methods to the present more modern styles. It has also developed
extensively, both in severity and variety of methods used. But in the end, torture has gone full circle;
modern forms of torture are more like those methods used by savages than anything in between.
Overall, the severity of torture has fluctuated, growing and receding with the passing of each new
time period, but eventually reverting to its original state.
There are several varieties of tortures in general. Until the twentieth century, most forms of torture
that were recognized as such were purely physical in nature. The breaking of bones, manipulation or
mutilation of a person's body, and the application of flames or other implements of punishment were
the main forms of recognized torture.
The Wheel was a
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4. Is Torture Ever Acceptable? Essay
Torture is the process of inflicting pain upon other people in order to force them to say something
against their own will. The word "torture" comes from the Latin word "torquere," which means to
twist. Torture can not only be psychologically but mentally painful. Before the Enlightenment, it was
perfectly legal to torture individuals but nowadays, it is illegal to torture anyone under any
circumstances. In this essay, I will demonstrate why torture should never acceptable, not matter the
condition. From a moral standpoint, torture is wrong and unacceptable. Many religious people are
against this act of violence because they see it as a violation of the dignity of a human being.
Humans have the right to not have intentional harm upon...show more content...
The attacks of September 11 brought to attention the debate on torture. The scenario describes an
imaginary scene in which a enormous weapon was to unleash and a prisoner is known to have
information on the attack but won't say anything. The United States was faced with a question of
whether to torture the prisoner or allow millions of civilians to die. The reason that this scenario
doesn't back up the statement that torture is acceptable sometimes is that it seems to "perfect."
The conditions are too calculated to actually happen in real life. There are many factors that come
into play in situations like this that affect the outcome. It also doesn't seem as easy as to just
torture one person to save a thousand. The event of torturing doesn't end at that one time; the
United States is the most powerful country in the entire world. It sets an example for the rest of
the world. One person being tortured will lead to many more to be tortured. Let's pretend that
there is nothing wrong with torture and that is it not a controversial issue. What good is using
torture to obtain information? The use of torture is almost never effective. People that use this
process will only hear what they want to hear or the information might not be as reliable.
"Someone who is being tortured will happily say that grass is blue and the sky is green if he
believes it'll end the torture." Even if the information was to be reliable, it can be
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5. Essay about Is Torture Ever Acceptable?
I do not believe in torture and consider it something barbaric and inhuman. Therefore I would say
that torture is never acceptable under any circumstances, and regardless of what the consequences
might be. Torture and civilization do not mix because the latter highly emphasizes the value of
human beings as it is something intrinsic. Democracy also does not mix with torture because
democratic societies believe in human rights and equality. My point is that the end does not justify
the means when it comes to the torture of a human being.
September 11, 2001 was a turning point in not only the history of the United States but also the
history of the world. It has put the commitment of the civilized world with human rights into test.
After...show more content...
However, there are two basic arguments about this issue I am going to talk about. The first argument
considers that we can use torture as the last resort. Consequentialists, who hold the first argument,
consider that no action is bad in itself. According to them, morality of actions is determined by their
consequences. Thus, in the above mentioned scenario "the good" (saving innocent people) must be
weighed up against "the bad" (torturing the suspect) in order to make a decision on the correct
course of action.
The second argument considers that torture is not acceptable under any circumstances and
regardless what the consequences might be. Deontologists, who hold this argument, consider that
torture cannot be justified because the acceptance of any form of torture as an effective means to
extract information from suspects, would universalize and legalize torture. The act of torture is
wrong because torturing a person for information is to use them as a means to exploit them.
Personally, I think that the "ticking bomb" scenario is very narrow and is deceptively used to
legalize torture as an acceptable means of eliciting information from suspects in critical situations.
There are several considerations that should be taken into account before trying to legalize the act of
torture; the scenario of the "ticking bomb" can be challenged and rests only on assumptions.
Exceptions will pave the way before the wide implementation
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