Torture has its uses. What are they (5 Reasons) - Essay Example

Torture Introduction Torture refers to the act of intentionally inflicting pain to another person. Torture can be mental or physical, and can have psychological effects on the one being tortured. Most times the person being tortured is always helpless and at the mercy of the one inflicting the pain. The duration of a torture varies from minutes to years and is highly dependent on the torturer’s intentions. Even though many people argue that torture is evil and against human rights, it becomes necessary in some circumstances.

The five top reasons for torture are to collect intelligence, to secure confessions in criminal or political cases, to gain control over members of groups, to gratify sadistic urges, and to provide punishment. Collection of intelligenceWhen a person has knowledge of some information that poses a threat to others, the torturers may force them to give out the information by means of torture. The torturers do not intend to harm them, but rather to get information from them, which otherwise they would not willingly give up.

An example is a person who is aware of a planned terror attack. The intelligence unit will do everything within their means to have the person tell them all the details of the impending attack to help save lives. Therefore, it is morally permissible to torture in such cases (Wisnewski 101).To provide punishmentThe justice system can use torture as a way of serving justice to victims by punishing the assailants. While others may argue that torture is inhumane and hence a wicked means of punishing criminals, it becomes unavoidable in some circumstances.

Consider a case of castrating a rapist or a pedophile as a form of punishment. The pain and the mental torture such people undergo will ensure they do not engage in such acts ever again. Torture as a form of punishment is therefore effective and necessary in some extreme cases (Waldron 117).To gratify sadistic urgesSome people are just sadists or psychopaths who find pleasure in other people’s pains. Such people find a personal satisfaction in seeing others in pain. Sadists torture their victims, for no apparent reason, except for their selfish needs.

Sadistic reasons are not a justifiable need for torture and the government should abolish them. Such torturers should face the law for putting other’s lives in danger (Irwin 186).To secure confessions in criminal or political casesSometimes some people hold information that is very useful in a criminal investigation and may not be willing to give out the information freely. The police can subject such people to torture in order to release such information, which may be useful in convicting or releasing others.

Holding onto a testimony that could determine someone’s fate, especially those about to be convicted wrongly, is in itself criminal. Hence, it is morally okay to torture people to get such confessions (Davis 193).To gain control over members of groupsAt times, when one is tortured, it acts as a lesson to the others. Once the other members of the group see their own being tortured, they become timid. They cannot dare go against a particular set of rules for fear of what happened to their colleagues befalling them.

In this manner, the torturer succeeds in taking control over the group. While others may have an evil motive here like enslaving people or kidnapping, other intentions are good. When the police hold criminals in one place, and one gets naughty by trying to escape, torturing him serves as an example to the rest and restraints such actions. This way the police get control over the criminals (Hunsinger 55).ConclusionTorture, as argued by many human rights activists, is morally wrong. There are many reasons for torture, some are good, some not advisable.

The main reasons for torture are to gain control, to punish, to get confessions, sadistic reasons, and to gather intelligence. Works CitedDavis, Amanda Jean. "Popular Torture." Unveiling the Rhetoric of Torture: Abu Ghraib and American National Identity. Amanda Jean Davis, 2008. 193. Print.Hunsinger, George. "How to Test Tortures Rationale." Torture Is a Moral Issue: Christians, Jews, Muslims, and People of Conscience Speak out. Grand Rapids, Mich.: William B. Eerdmans Pub., 2008. 55. Print.Irwin, William, and David Kyle.

"Arguments for Torture." Introducing Philosophy through Pop Culture: From Socrates to South Park, Hume to House. Chichester, UK: Wiley-Blackwell, 2010. Print.Waldron, Jeremy. Torture, Terror, and Trade-offs Philosophy for the White House. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2010. Print.Wisnewski, Jeremy. "Thinking through Tortures Temptations." Understanding Torture. 1st ed. Edinburgh: Edinburgh UP, 2010. 100-119. Print.