Confronting Torture : Essays on the Ethics, Legality, History, and Psychology of Torture Today / Martha C. Nussbaum, Scott A. Anderson.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Anderson, Scott A., editor.

Nussbaum, Martha C. (Martha Craven), 1947- editor.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Torture--Psychological aspects.

Torture.

Torture--Moral and ethical aspects.

Torture--Law and legislation.

Physical Description:

1 online resource

Place of Publication:

Chicago : University of Chicago Press, [2018]

Language Note:

In English.

Summary:

Torture has lately become front page news, featured in popular movies and TV shows, and a topic of intense public debate. It grips our imagination, in part because torturing someone seems to be an unthinkable breach of humanity-theirs and ours. And yet, when confronted with horrendous events in war, or the prospect of catastrophic damage to one's own country, many come to wonder whether we can really afford to abstain entirely from torture. Before trying to tackle this dilemma, though, we need to see torture as a multifaceted problem with a long history and numerous ethical and legal aspects. Confronting Torture offers a multidisciplinary investigation of this wrenching topic. Editors Scott A. Anderson and Martha C. Nussbaum bring together a diversity of scholars to grapple with many of torture's complexities, including: How should we understand the impetus to use torture? Why does torture stand out as a particularly heinous means of war-fighting? Are there any sound justifications for the use of torture? How does torture affect the societies that employ it? And how can we develop ethical or political bulwarks to prevent its use? The essays here resist the temptation to oversimplify torture, drawing together work from scholars in psychology, history, sociology, law, and philosophy, deepening and broadening our grasp of the subject. Now, more than ever, torture is something we must think about; this important book offers a diversity of timely, constructive responses on this resurgent and controversial subject.

Contents:

Frontmatter

CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Introduction / Anderson, Scott A.

PART I. A Triumph over Torture, Told by a Survivor

ONE. Tales of Terrorism and Torture: The Soft Vengeance of Justice / Sachs, Albie

PART II. Psychological Perspectives on Torture

CHAPTER 2. The Many Faces of Torture: A Psychological Perspective / Gorman, William / Zakowski, Sandra G.

CHAPTER 3. Stoic Equanimity in the Face of Torture / Sherman, Nancy

CHAPTER 4. Gender Performance Requirements of the US Military in the War on Islamic Terrorism / Case, Mary Anne

PART III. Torture in Historical Context

CHAPTER 5. The Fragility of Evidence: Torture in Ancient Rome / Coleman, Kathleen M.

CHAPTER 6. US Torture of Prisoners of War in Historical Perspective: The Role of Delegitimization / Einolf, Christopher J.

CHAPTER 7. Police Interrogation and Coercion in Domestic American History: Lessons for the War on Terror / Leo, Richard A. / Koenig, K. Alexa

PART IV. The Ethics of Torture

CHAPTER 8. The Ticking Bomb Hypothetical / Baron, Marcia

CHAPTER 9. Torture and Method in Moral Philosophy / Mcmahan, Jeff

CHAPTER 10. Torture, Self- Defense, and Fighting Dirty / Sussman, David

CHAPTER 11. Torture as Unjust Means of War: To Squelch the Sirens' Singing / Anderson, Scott A.

PART V. Torture in US Law and Policy

CHAPTER 12. Torture and Positive Law: Jurisprudence for the White House / Waldron, Jeremy

CHAPTER 13. In Defense of Lawfare: The Value of Litigation in Challenging Torture / Hajjar, Lisa

CHAPTER 14. Tortured Prosecutions: Holding Private Military Contractors Accountable / Ordower, Garrett

CONTRIBUTORS

INDEX

Notes:

Previously issued in print: 2018.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on online resource; title from PDF title page (publisher's Web site, viewed 22. Okt 2019)

ISBN:

0-226-52955-X

OCLC:

1028637804