Torture can speed up interrogation processes. NOTE: Your account might be penalized should we not find any wrongdoing by this user. Only use this feature if you are certain this user has infringed netivist's Terms of Service. As Shane O’Mara’s account of the neuroscience of suffering reveals, extreme stress creates profound problems for memory, mood, and thinking, and sufferers predictably produce information that is deeply unreliable, or even counterproductive and dangerous. Watch these videos providing opposing view on whether turture can ever be justified: We summarize some of the most commonly cited advantages and disadvantages of the utilization of torture techniques such as waterboarding to extract information: Emerging questions: Should governments, in some cases, use torture to save lives or prevent further harm to their citizens? This will allow us to keep netivist alive and available to During the George W. Bush administration, the CIA employed what it called “enhanced interrogation techniques” on detainees around the world. But many doubt of the real effectiveness of torture. Are you experiencing any technical problem with netivist? Already have an account on netivist? It absolutely works. For ethical reasons, there are no scientific studies of torture. If you are new to netivist, please create your account for free and start collecting your netivist points! And it's even been a part of U.S. policy. Join with confidence, netivist is completely advertisement free. The harm caused to one or few people could prevent much greater harm to society. And in fact, Houdini’s escape had very little to do with the Chinese torture practice.In Houdini’s act, he was suspended upside down, immersed in water. Thanks to torture, sometimes it is possible to foil terror attacks and save the lives of many. Thus, torture conflics with some of the core principles that underpins our democratic systems. From a retributivist perspective, the damage that torture causes to some criminals can be justified as a deserved punishment. Ancient civilizations used torture in much the same way some cultures use it today: to gain information, to punish wrongdoers and sometimes just for sadistic pleasure. However, Donald Trump, during his first week in office declared that torture is effective ("absolutely, I feel it works"). As Shane O'Mara's account of the neuroscience of suffering reveals, extreme stress creates profound problems for memory, mood, and thinking, and sufferers predictably produce information that is deeply unreliable, or even counterproductive and dangerous. If it contains abusive or inappropriate language its author will be penalized. Why I'm Glad That Torture Works 05/09/2011 09:35 am ET Updated Jul 09, 2011 John Yoo, author of the infamous torture memo that manipulated legal materials to justify the use of torture for interrogation during the Bush Administration, has been crowing all over the media that the death of Osama bin Laden shows that torture works. O'Mara clearly show not only why torture doesn't work, but why it can't. The right to freedom from torture is a universally recognized human right and one of the foundations of international law. There is no conclusive evidence that torture has been the key to foiling terrorist attacks or capturing or killing terrorist leaders. Keep up the good work. The intelligence that permitted this successful operation originated from … Torturing is against the law in most countries but some utilitarians would claim that if the overall harm prevented is lower than that caused to the suspected criminal, then it is worth it. How can we expect citizens to act according to the laws and commonly accepted moral standards when the government does not respect them. Find out more about the potential advantages and disadvantages of torture and join our poll and debate (see below). Vote to see result and collect 1 XP. This could essential in cases when there is little time to prevent an attack. Torture is the act of deliberately hurting someone, physically or psychologically, as a punishment or as means of obtaining some information. Many human right advocates are afraid that this means the return of practices such as waterboarding. The argument over whether torture works peaked with the killing of Osama bin Laden in 2011. Actually there are many reasons. This might take a few seconds, please wait. Find out more about how we use your information in our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. 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