Is torture always wrong, even if the person is 100% evil?

[Frihed89]

There have historically been 2 reasons for torture: as punishment, or to obtain confession (or other infromation).

The most recent debates focus on the latter reason: does punishment work as a means of gathering information?

The issue of punishing evil deeds through torture has two sides, and which side wins depends on where you live.

[jetgraphics]

The simple answer : torture is always bad.
Using evil to defeat evil, only results in a victory for evil.

[otowi]

Originally Posted by mustangman66

Sinking to their level would be more like torturing an innocent person.

I fundamentally disagree. Torture IS evil. So if you do torture you do evil, regardless of whether or not the victim of your torture was innocent or not - that is totally irrelevant.

[sheena12]

Originally Posted by Brandono

I know that the idea of torture for many is a contentious subject, but even if it's not for information gathering. simply to make a very horrible and evil person suffer to death, is it wrong? Let me put it this way: Let's take some of the most unanimously considered evil people to have ever existed; Hitler, Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot, Osama Bin Laden. Say at the time they were alive they met their end by being captured and brutally tortured in the worst ways possible for weeks, or even months, then finally died. Considering just how unspeakably evil we all know the aforementioned were, would you still consider it wrong to have done to them? Would you honestly feel bad for them?

Yes. Torture is always wrong. It does not yield reliable information, either.

I don't believe in the death penalty, and I sure as hell don't believe in torture.

[mike1003]

Originally Posted by Hulsker 1856

They fact that you would find it emotionally satisfying to cause intense suffering isn't quantifying anything.

But we'll mark you down as a YES for torture for no reason other than your own amusement...

Believe me, it is far from amusement! And no, it would not be torture for no reason

[mjlo]

Since this is no longer being debated per the guidelines the topic is being closed.