"The Case for Torture"

"The Case for Torture" by Michael Levin is a short essay that represents an argument throughout the writing.  The argument displayed in this essay is concluded as is it probable to torture a terrorist or other being if they are putting innocent people in harm?  Levin develops this argument by displaying scenarios that in turn describe situations in which terrorists are putting innocent people in means of harm.  He concludes with each scenario asking if torture is barbaric or unconstitutional.  As many people would argue "yes" in this situation, think about it as your own child being kidnapped by a terrorist group. This exact example is used in the story "The Case for Torture."  Levin provides results of a poll done by mothers who were asked if they would accept torturing kidnappers if they took their newborns. Four specific mothers answered "yes."

The main points of this essay are categorized in the ideas of death and idealism.  Listed under the death explanation is what Levin stated, "Torturing the terrorist is unconstitutional? Probably. But millions of lives surely outweigh constitutionality. Torture is barbaric? mass murder is far more barbaric" (Levin 575).  In simpler terms, Levin is stating that although torture does seem uncivilized and brutal, that is the only way to potentially help save hundreds-millions of lives.  Under the idealism explanation is the broader aspect of even though you torture a terrorist, is one sure that it is justifiable and that the person in torture is the right one. I believe that the author does not use any other logical fallacies within the writing.

A potential counterargument of the argument stated in the essay would be what if the officials who are holding the perpetrator at torture have the wrong subject in hand.  This would be an embarrassing yet unethical situation.  It would be morally wrong in society to hold someone innocent at captive, especially when the real terrorist or harmful individual is still on the streets waiting to kill hundreds of people.  "Governments have used systematic torture in conflicts with rebel, insurgent or resistance groups in long running conflicts since the 1980s. It is questionable whether these should always be called terrorism conflicts. Governments are likely to call their non-state violent opponents terrorists, but only sometimes are they clearly engaged in terrorist activity" (Zalman).

Levin, Michael. "The Case for Torture."  The Millenium Reader. Hirschberg, Stuart and Terry Hirschberg.
      5th ed. New Jersey: Pearson Education, 2009. 574-577. Print

Zalman, Ph.D., Amy. "History of Torture and Terrorism." New York Times Company, 2011. Web. 31 Mar. 2011. <http://terrorism.about.com/od/humanrights/p/Torture.htm>.