I do not think the ancient greeks,
or medivial inquisitioners had a notion of torture.
It, same as habeas corpus, jury, warrant .. is a modern concept,
related to the human rights, rule of law and civilised governments.
Kant would condem it:
According to philosopher Immanuel Kant, torture is unethical because a
government should never infringe upon the rights of an individual to
achieve a "larger" goal, such as the possible discovery of a terrorist
plot...
http://www.wadsworth.com/criminaljustice_d/templates/student_resources/0534629016_gaines/great_debates/ch7.html
Stalin, to quote a recent example, considered it justified.
According to this statement attributed to US secretaty of state:
"The United States, and those countries that share the commitment to
defend their citizens, will use every lawful weapon to defeat these
terrorists "
http://www.turkishpress.com/news.asp?id=83280
It is not clear whether EU countries 'do have the right commitment'
so that illegal methods needs to be used bu US, which may justify 'renditions'
without a warrant and 'enhanced interrogation techniques?
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=671853
but certainly not a torture.
It has same root, but sounds much better. |
