Is Torture Permissible?- Deductive Reasoning
Torture is against international human rights (Human Rights Watch, 2012).
Torture causes human suffering (Reyes, 2007).
Intentional causation of human suffering is immoral.
So, torture is immoral (by 1, 2, 3).
Immorality is not permissible (by 1).
Therefore, torture is not permissible. (by 4 and 5).
Explanation:
The laws against torture are stipulated in The International Human Rights Law which prohibit torture of any kind and during all occasions, including during war (Human Rights Watch, 2012). These laws have been ratified by the United Nations Convention which engaged many countries; this points to a general agreeable position that torture is wrong hence banned.
Psychologists point to far reaching consequences of torture; not just physical effects, but also psychological (Reyes, 2007). To cause someone such suffering is immoral since it is damaging.
Causing suffering is considered immoral due to the grievous effects that it has on an individual; on the other hand, international human laws ratified by numerous countries find torture immoral, hence illegal. If such actions which contribute to torture are immoral and immorality is not permissible, torture is, therefore not permissible.
The argument is premised on the unlawfulness of torture and its classification as a human rights violation. It is also premised on the negative effects of torture and the actions that contribute to torture, which are considered immoral. The argument concludes that torture is not permissible since immorality is not permissible and torture is immoral. Torture is not permissible.
References
Human Rights Watch,. (2012). Torture. Human Rights Watch. Retrieved 31 July 2016, from https://www.hrw.org/topic/torture
Reyes, H. (2007). The worst scars are in the mind: psychological torture. Irc, 89(867). http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s1816383107001300
Rodley, N.S. (2000).‘The Treatment of Prisoners Under International Law’ (2nd edition). Oxford University Press.
