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Stephen Trapani

wrote:
"Stephen Trapani" wrote
..... if you strongly
suspect someone of being about to kill a large group of innocent people,
there is justification in torturing him or of course even killing him if
it helps you stop it from happening.

And why would torturing him or killing him "help stop it from
happening"? He is already a prisoner and not in a position to be any
threat.

I'm sure you would agree that *if* you obtain information that prevents
slaughter of innocents by dunking someone in water a few times, you have
not done something wrong, you have done something good.

BTW information obtained by torture is not reliable. People being
tortured say anything. And usually, a competently-organized military
or paramilitary organization operates on a 'Need To Know' basis....
hence anything short of capturing a General willnot yield any useful
info.

I agree with you to the extent that if you torture someone for some
other outcome besides actually preventing murder, you have done
something wrong. I am not arguing that all torture is okay, I'm arguing
that there is such a thing as torture that is okay.

For example, the Nazis would have tortured low-ranking Allied soldiers
(and certainly did) but did not find out where or when the Normandy
invasion was to take place.

But you have chosen your level of morality, logic & facts are not
going change your mind.

On the contrary, I'm arguing points that all reasonable humans should
agree on.

Stephen