The Judgment of Torture

Abstract

Whether torture is justifiable or feasible is a long-lasting debate between consequentialists and deontologists which involves human morality and ethics. This essay evaluates the legitimacy and feasibility of torture, examining the reasoning behind both utilitarian and deontological approaches. The essay is based on a thought experiment: the ticking bomb scenario, in which a terrorist places a bomb that can kill the city's entire population, and the terrorist is captured by the police. The dilemma here is to determine whether we should torture the criminal to save the people in the city. Our discussion expands on Michael Moore's idea of threshold deontology, verifying the rationality of his reasoning. We conclude that torture is never morally justified, so it should be prohibited. However, defendants should have the justification of necessity.