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Terrorism, Ticking Time-Bombs, and Torture

A Philosophical Analysis

Fritz Allhoff

Terrorism, Ticking Time-Bombs, and Torture

Fritz Allhoff

280 pages | 6 line drawings, 2 tables | 6 x 9 | © 2012
Cloth $46.00 ISBN: 9780226014838 Published February 2012
E-book $10.00 to $46.00 About E-books ISBN: 9780226014821 Published July 2012
The general consensus among philosophers is that the use of torture is never justified. In Terrorism, Ticking Time-Bombs, and Torture, Fritz Allhoff demonstrates the weakness of the case against torture; while allowing that torture constitutes a moral wrong, he nevertheless argues that, in exceptional cases, it represents the lesser of two evils.
 
Allhoff does not take this position lightly. He begins by examining the way terrorism challenges traditional norms, discussing the morality of various practices of torture, and critically exploring the infamous ticking time-bomb scenario. After carefully considering these issues from a purely philosophical perspective, he turns to the empirical ramifications of his arguments, addressing criticisms of torture and analyzing the impact its adoption could have on democracy, institutional structures, and foreign policy. The crucial questions of how to justly authorize torture and how to set limits on its use make up the final section of this timely, provocative, and carefully argued book.
Contents
Preface

PART I TERRORISM

1 What is Terrorism?
1.1. Historical and Conceptual Foundations
1.2. The Intentional Use of Force
1.3. Against Noncombatants or Their Property
1.4. Intentionally Instilling Fear
1.5. For Ideological Aims

2 The Moral Status of Terrorism
2.1. Noncombatant Immunity
2.2. Supreme Emergencies
2.3. Terrorism and Counterterrorism

3 The War on Terror and the Ethics of Exceptionalism
3.1. The War on Terror
3.2. Exceptionalism
3.3. Temporal Exceptionalism
3.4. Spatial Exceptionalism
3.5. Group-Based Exceptionalism
3.6. The Ethics of Exceptionalism

PART II TORTURE AND TICKING TIME-BOMBS

4 Conceptual and Moral Foundations of Torture
4.1. What Is Torture?
4.2. Why Torture?
4.3. Why Is Torture (Intrinsically) Bad?

5 Ticking-Time-Bomb Methodology
5.1. Origins of the Ticking Time-Bomb
5.2. Intuitions and Thought Experiments
5.3. Ticking-Time-Bomb Case Variants

6 Should We Torture in Ticking-Time-Bomb Cases?
6.1. Torture and Utility
6.2. Torture and Rights
6.3. Other Moral Theories
6.4. Absolutism in Principle
6.5. Absolutism in Practice

PART III TORTURE AND THE REAL WORLD

7 Empirical Objections to Torture
7.1. Torture Doesn’t Work
7.2. Torture Requires Institutions
7.3. The Nefarious Spread of Torture
7.4. Alternatives to Torture
7.5. The Folly of Cases
7.6. Ticking-Time-Bomb Cases Redux

8 Ex Ante and Ex Post Justifications
8.1. Civil Disobedience
8.2. Torture Warrants
8.3. Self-Defense
8.4. The Necessity Defense

9 The Limits of Torture
9.1. Torture Is Not a Panacea
9.2. How Far Should We Go?
9.3. Final Remarks

Notes
Bibliography
Index
Review Quotes
John Yoo, University of California, Berkeley
“Professor Allhoff has written a challenging work that is sure to generate controversy among both the supporters and critics of the United States’ war on terror. He applies philosophical, legal, and political approaches to deepen our understanding of modern terrorism, the ticking-time-bomb hypothetical and national security. His methodical arguments and brave conclusions will not please everyone, but it will press them all to become more rigorous in their thinking and more careful in their judgments. Anyone interested in the difficult questions posed by the 9/11 attacks and the US’s response will want to read this book.”—John Yoo, University of California, Berkeley
Michael L. Gross, University of Haifa
“Terrorism, Ticking Time-Bombs, and Torture adds much to current discussion of a great many issues. Fritz Allhoff broadens the torture and terrorism debate, deftly analyzes exceptionalism and absolutism, probes the ticking-time-bomb scenario to surprising and controversial effect, and offers novel empirical data and a trenchant interpretation of complex legal issues.”
Uwe Steinhoff, University of Hong Kong
“Allhoff’s book provides a much needed corrective to the now-dominant view in philosophical circles that the ticking-time-bomb case cannot be made fruitful for a justification of torture. Skillfully bridging theory and practice, his arguments are also of wider ethical significance beyond the confines of the torture debate.”
R. Heineman | Choice
“This hardheaded, utilitarian argument is a useful contraposition to most discussions of the topic.”
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