Torture has its uses. What are they (5 Reasons) Essay

Torture has its uses. What are they (5 Reasons) - Essay Example intelligence, to secure confessions in criminal or political cases, to gain control over members of groups, to gratify sadistic urges, and to provide punishment. When a person has knowledge of some information that poses a threat to others, the torturers may force them to give out the information by means of torture. The torturers do not intend to harm them, but rather to get information from them, which otherwise they would not willingly give up. An example is a person who is aware of a planned terror attack. The intelligence unit will do everything within their means to have the person tell them all the details of the impending attack to help save lives. Therefore, it is morally permissible to torture in such cases (Wisnewski 101). The justice system can use torture as a way of serving justice to victims by punishing the assailants. While others may argue that torture is inhumane and hence a wicked means of punishing criminals, it becomes unavoidable in some circumstances. Consider a case of castrating a rapist or a pedophile as a form of punishment. The pain and the mental torture such people undergo will ensure they do not engage in such acts ever again. Torture as a form of punishment is therefore effective and necessary in some extreme cases (Waldron 117). Some people are just sadists or psychopaths who find pleasure in other people’s pains. Such people find a personal satisfaction in seeing others in pain. Sadists torture their victims, for no apparent reason, except for their selfish needs. Sadistic reasons are not a justifiable need for torture and the government should abolish them. Such torturers should face the law for putting other’s lives in danger (Irwin 186). Sometimes some people hold information that is very useful in a criminal investigation and may not be willing to give out the information freely. The police can subject such people to torture in order to release such information, which may be useful in convicting or releasing others.