More about torture

[Goldie Munro]

The Stanford Prison Study... Little Albert... I agree its somewhat less. My point wasn't that it was equal, but its an indicator that it works.



You'll have to forgive me, but in the Courtrooms that things like this are decided; and the reports that authorize operative use... the philosophical justifications are essential. In the end, the decision isn't "We should use torture"... it's "We have decided that its ethical to do so, based on key arguments". Man's most reprehensible activities are decided with philosophy. That, for better or worse, is a truth.



Its Reason, and Reason has no place with Sophistry. Its not rhetoric or persuasion, its analysis. Will I ever be able to convince someone that torture has a place using it? I can't answer that. I don't think anyone can. That is asking for future prediction and anyone whose going to say they know is either ignorant or fraudulent. Better question is "will someone be able to argue to rational satisfaction, on people with heart and brains, that torture has a place?"

It seems as though that has already been done.

Still doesnt make it acceptable - or does it?

 

[Joe Wordsworth]

Originally posted by thebullet
Joe, what the fuck are you talking about? You sit there dreaming of brainwashing and good=guy bad-guy cops while there are people in American prisons and prisoner of war camps who are being held without charge and having broomsticks stuck up their asses, accosted by huge German Shepards, made to perform what to them are dispicable acts. You just don't get it, Joe.

The issue was about how torture works. There's a guy that's being held, here in the US, hasn't seen a lawyer because he's not a criminal (legally)... hasn't seen anything except the guy that brings him food for two years. Two years, bullet.

No calls. No people. Two years. Suspect of terrorism.

It is, currently, legal for this to occur because he's outside of the bounds of domestic law. He is being tortured, this has been said. I was explaining how torture works. Its not the Hollywood-esque thumbscrews where the guy will claim anything to get it to stop.

Its a psychological process meant to seperate him from faith in everything except that one man... whom "he can trust". It wasn't a judgement on the merits or evils of torture. It was explaining how the idea of its effect works.

I do get it, bullet. Not once have I said it was good. Only that it can be very effective.

 

[Joe Wordsworth]

Originally posted by Goldie Munro
Still doesnt make it acceptable - or does it?

Not in any way that's ever been argued to me, before, no.