Why Not Torture Terrorists?

Moral, Practical, and Legal Aspects of the 'Ticking Bomb' Justification for Torture
1. Auflage 2010
ISBN: 978-0-19-957123-9
Verlag: OUP Oxford

Buch, Englisch, 480 Seiten, Format (B × H): 156 mm x 234 mm, Gewicht: 711 g

Reihe: Oxford Monographs in International Law

This book addresses a dilemma at the heart of counter-terrorist policy: is it ever justifiable to torture terrorists in order to save the lives of others, the so-called 'ticking bomb' scenario?

The book opens with an analysis of the pure moral argument from the standpoint of the individual as torturer. It then looks at the issues that arise once a state has decided to sanction torture in certain situations: how to establish factually that the situation is urgent, deciding who to torture, training people to carry out torture, and the efficacy of torture as a means of gathering information. The final part examines attempts to operate legal systems which tolerate torture; how they relate
to the criminal law notion of necessity and to international human rights norms.

After examining the utilitarian arguments for torture, and the impact on a society of permitting torture, the author presents a powerful argument for maintaining the absolute legal prohibition.

Zielgruppe

Human rights and legal professionals, academics and advanced students in philosophy, politics and law interested in the arguments surrounding the prohibition on torture and the 'war on terror'.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Ginbar, Yuval

Fachgebiete

• Rechtswissenschaften Internationales Recht und Europarecht Internationales Recht Internationale Menschen- und Minderheitenrechte, Kinderrechte
• Rechtswissenschaften Recht, Rechtswissenschaft Allgemein Rechtsphilosophie, Rechtsethik
• Rechtswissenschaften Internationales Recht und Europarecht Internationales Recht Internationales Strafrecht, Internationales Verfahrensrecht
• Geisteswissenschaften Philosophie Rechtsphilosophie, Rechtsethik
• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Politische Kultur Menschenrechte, Bürgerrechte
• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Politische Gewalt Terrorismus, Religiöser Fundamentalismus

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Sir Nigel Rodley: Foreword
Introduction
Part I: Private Morality: Is it Morally Justifiable for an Individual to Torture a Terrorist in Order to Save Many Innocent Lives?
1: Introduction
2: The wider moral Issue: Do consequences or 'no go areas' determine what is ethical in an extreme situation?
3: Consequentialist argument for torturing in a ticking bomb situation
4: The minimal absolutist approach I: anti-absolutism as morally untenable
5: The minimal absolutist approach II: Arguments for an absolute prohibition on torture
Part II: Public, Practical Morality: Is it Morally Justifiable for a State to Torture in Order to Save Many Innocent Lives?
6: Introduction
7: Is there a 'public morality' that is distinct from 'private morality'?
8: 'Slippery slope' and other dangers
Part III: Legalising Torture 1 - Four Models
9: Introduction
10: The Landau model in Israel
11: The 'torture warrants' model
12: Israel's High Court of Justice model
13: The USA's 'high value detainees' model
Part IV: Legalising Torture 2 - Three Issues
14: Introduction
15: Is it (internationally) legal? Is it torture?
16: The 'defence of necessity' model as legal grounds for torture
Part V: Conclusions

Über Autor(innen)

Ginbar, Yuval
Yuval Ginbar serves as a legal adviser to Amnesty International and a senior adviser to the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel.