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The Problem of Justifying Torture in Analytical Ethics in the 1970s-1980s

Submitted by Гость (not verified) on Thu, 02/05/2026 - 17:38

The article reconstructs a brief period of intensive debates on the legitimacy and justification of torture in the early 1970s to the mid-1980s. It is shown that the emergence of the discourse on the morality of torture was influenced by the following factors. Firstly, the formulation of the “dirty hands” dilemma, which in the analytical tradition became a crucial tool for analyzing the relationship between ends and means. Secondly, the establishment of a theoretical and applied field of philosophical research known as the just war theory.

Alan Dershowitz’s “Protocol Torture”

Submitted by Гость (not verified) on Thu, 10/10/2024 - 16:38

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The article attempts to reconstruct the analytical debates on the morality of torture. The tragic events of September 11, 2001 served as a pretext for renewing the discussion. Professor of law Alan Dershowitz initiated debates on the justification of torture in extraordinary circumstances. Dershowitz’s argument consists of several key propositions: a) we must acknowledge the widespread use of torture; b) we should bring torture into the realm of law. Dershowitz’s idea has met both support and criticism from various professional humanitarians.