Ethical Torture

Here's the scenario: you've captured a terrorist and his family. He has information about a nuclear bomb that's hidden in one of the US' major cities and is scheduled to detonate soon. You have no idea where the bomb is at or the exact time of its' detonation. The terrorist isn't talking, so you bring his 7 year old daughter in. You threaten to torture her instead. You light a lighter and hold the flame next to her, inching it closer to her skin. What would you do after this? Would you actually hurt her?

I find it truly sad and deeply disturbing that this is a scenario we are even considering. I find it even more disturbing and depressing that this scenario happens more and more often in our world today. I do not agree with the concept of torture at all. I am a very peaceful person and believe very firmly in diplomatic solutions first and foremost. I wonder how the people that conduct the tortures are able to sleep at night; are able to go home and be with their families and see their children after witnessing the horrible things that they have done.

This is a very difficult scenario. On the one side, if you don’t obtain this information, millions of lives are going to be lost. In the long run, who would know or even care how that information was obtained to save those lives? In that case, the ends justify the means. The life of one for the life of many. But this decision is not an ethical decision. We, as humans inhabiting this earth, believe that it is wrong to kill another person. We believe that it is wrong to hurt another human being. Why should torture be the exception to this thinking? The morally acceptable response to this situation is to let the girl and her family leave after being questioned. Maybe one of the family members would be more willing to talk than the actual terrorist. Solutions can be reached without torture. Torturing his children may be the only thing that works on him, but why not talk to his family and see what they have to say?

 *Note: This was a discussion board post topic for my philosophy class!