Introduction
In his essay, “The Case for Torture,” Michael Levin argues that torture is an irreplaceable leverage opportunity in some cases. The author is not a sadist; he states that physical or psychological torture is sometimes the most suitable variant to obtain life-saving information. Thus, this essay will support Levin’s point of view and explain that exceptional conditions justify the use of violence against particular individuals.
Main body
To begin with, one should mention that torture may only be applied to terrorists by law enforcement officers. The author describes his point of view by offering a hypothetical scenario when a terrorist has hidden an atomic bomb and refuses to disclose its location (Levin par. 3). Multiple factors demonstrate why it is possible to subject such a criminal to physical or psychological influence. Firstly, torture is justified because it is necessary to obtain information to save millions of lives. Secondly, since a terrorist has endangered numerous innocent people, law enforcement officers have a moral right to subject this individual to torture to save others.
At the same time, some people can claim that any manifestation of torture violates human rights. These people insist on the fact that no one has the right to subject others to significant pain. However, their argument is confused by the fact that torture can be an additional constraining factor for terrorists to refrain from criminal behavior. It refers to the fact that the fear of pain can prevent individuals from acting illegally.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the essay has demonstrated that torture is permissible for terrorists. The necessity to obtain life-saving information justifies the physical and psychological impact on a guilty individual. Even though some people emphasize the unconstitutional nature of torture, this leverage opportunity can become an additional factor that will prevent terrorists from committing crimes. That is why it is reasonable to consider applying torture in exceptional cases.
Work Cited
Levin, Michael. “The Case for Torture.” 2020. Web.