This is a great topic, especially given that we aren't nearly out
of the woods yet on the shameful abuse of prisoners.
Michael Ignatieff wrote in "A Lesser Evil" (pages 136-144) that we
should ban torture at all times, especially in "Ticking Time Bomb"
cases, for several reasons, including:
1) Torture doesn't work;
2) It inflicts irreparable harm upon both the interrogator and the
detainee;
3) It inflicts irreparable harm upon the state;
4) It creates more enemies;
5) It violates international treaties;
6) In the case of the "Ticking Time Bomb," allowing torture under
"special circumstances" will lead to torture becoming routine.
His overarching argument is that a complete prohibition on torture
is tied up in the very identity of a liberal democracy. The seven
pages, however, are mostly used refuting every major argument for
the use of torture. It's an interesting part of the book, if only
to watch Ignatieff take pro-torture arguments seriously before
destroying them.
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