Torture and the Ticking Bomb (Blackwell Public Philosophy Series)

I read the book "Torture: a Collection" which has Dershowitz's argument for torture warrents in it. The problem that I had was why if we knew everything why did we not know where the bomb was located. The ticking bomb question was one that did not make sense with my experience in intellegence. At the time I almost bought into the logic, but something still nagged at me, it just did not make sense. This book takes the ticking bomb analogy apart and examines it word by word and piece by piece to determine the logic and reasoning. Dershowitz is the most well known of the proponents of this argument, so he is going to have to deal with the burden of carring the majority of the criticism due to his not0riedty. I have to say that wether you agree with torture under certain conditions, or you believe that torture is not justifiable under any condition, this book is a must read to completely understand what the logic of the ticking bomb scenereo is. There is no other work out there that I have seen that equals this book in its analysis. Torture and the Ticking Bomb......Page 1 Contents......Page 9 Preface......Page 11 1: Introduction......Page 13 What is Torture?......Page 15 Dershowitz on Interrogational Torture......Page 18 Why Write about Torture?......Page 20 The Agenda......Page 23 Dershowitz's Argument and the Ticking Bomb......Page 26 Who Tortures?......Page 33 Effectiveness and Time......Page 36 Knowledge and Necessity......Page 43 The Ticking Bomb Scenario: Conclusion......Page 50 3: The Consequences of Normalizing Interrogational Torture......Page 52 Some Clarifi cations......Page 53 Three Positive Claims about the Consequences of Legalizing Interrogational Torture......Page 64 The Institutionalization of Interrogational Torture......Page 69 A Torturous Society......Page 84 4: Torture, Death and Philosophy......Page 87 Torture......Page 88 Torture, Death and Interrogation......Page 91 Why No Decent Society Can Torture......Page 96 Torture, the "War on Terror" and Intellectual Irresponsibility......Page 97 But What if Torture Really is the Only Possible Way to Avoid Catastrophe?......Page 98 Two Final Points......Page 100 Notes......Page 101 Bibliography......Page 121 Index......Page 129 The controversial arguments of Harvard Law Professor Alan Dershowitz supporting the legalization of torture in so-called ticking bomb scenarios represent the most sophisticated and visible of recent attempts to make torture an accepted weapon in the war on terror. States and other agents engage in torture, as both sides of the debate accept. According to Bob Brecher, it is precisely because the general public are taking the new realism of Dershowitz and others seriously that there is a pressing need to expose the fundamental flaws in their arguments, lest the peoples of democratic societies lose their moral compass and fail to be vigilant in holding their governments properly to account. This timely and passionate book is the first to address itself directly to the arguments for legalizing the limited use of interrogational torture. Brecher confronts those arguments head-on, examining the efficacy of torture and drawing out the practical implications for policy as well as the ethical implications of these proposals for the kind of society we live in.

About the Author:
Bob Brecher is Reader in Moral Philosophy at the University of Brighton, UK

do You Really Think Torture Is Acceptable In Any Circumstances?

the Controversial Arguments Of Harvard Law Professor Alan Dershowitz Supporting The Legalisation Of Torture In So-called “ticking Bomb” Scenarios Represent The Most Sophisticated And Visible Of Recent Attempts To Make Torture An Accepted Weapon In The War On Terror.

states And Other Agents Engage In Torture, As Both Sides Of The Debate Accept. According To Bob Brecher, It Is Precisely Because The General Public Are Taking The “new Realism” Of Dershowitz And Others Seriously That There Is A Pressing Need To Expose The Fundamental Flaws In Their Arguments, Lest The Peoples Of Democratic Societies Lose Their Moral Compass And Fail To Be Vigilant In Holding Their Governments Properly To Account.

this Timely And Passionate Book Is The First To Address Itself Directly To The Arguments For Legalising The Limited Use Of Interrogational Torture. Brecher Confronts Those Arguments Head-on, Examining The Efficacy Of Torture And Drawing Out The Practical Implications For Policy As Well As The Ethical Implications Of These Proposals For The Kind Of Society We Live In.

This timely and passionate book is the first to address itself to Harvard Law Professor Alan Dershowitz's controversial arguments for the limited use of interrogational torture and its legalisation. Argues that the respectability Dershowitz's arguments confer on the view that torture is a legitimate weapon in the war on terror needs urgently to be countered Takes on the advocates of torture on their own utilitarian grounds Timely and passionately written, in an accessible, jargon-free style Forms part of the provocative and timely Blackwell Public Philosophy series 'Torture and the Ticking Bomb' addresses itself directly to Harvard Law Professor Alan Dershowitz's controversial arguments for the limited legalised use of interrogational torture in so-called 'ticking bomb' scenarios Introduction The fantasy of the "ticking bomb" scenario The consequences of normalizing interrogational torture Torture, death and philosophy