Is physical torture better than execution?

Question

Torture is controversial. Most people will say it's wrong to torture people yet many of those same people will say it's okay to execute certain people? Is there hypocrisy in this? I'm also wondering if removing an arm for theft is considered torture? It seems there is a big gap in punishment. You either stay in jail and are treated relatively humanely or you are killed. Is there really no in-between? Should execution be stopped and torture to some extent be allowed? Or should we just settle for jail time as the Europeans do?

Or is execution (sending someone to hell in the eyes of some) actually humane? If there is no 'life' after death then execution might be considered more humane than sending someone to hell. If we torture aren't we really doing the work of the devil?

Torture isn't just used to cause death. it might be better to be tortured and live than to be killed. I think Singapore still gives lashes as punishment. THink of the US GIs who are captured. Wouldn't it be better if they were tortured and came home than executed? You could even look at Christianity. If Jesus hadn't suffered on the cross would people have remembered him the same way? If he died instantly he probably would have been forgotten.

In some cases torture might be better. Take student who is hit with a piece of bamboo five times for a minute verses a student who ahs to stay two hours after class as punishment. Staying after class is probably more severe than getting a few wacks from a bamboo twig.

It's no so simple I guess.

Answer 1

Only to someone that really enjoys it.

Answer 2

Really interesting question.

I don't know that "better" is the best way to weigh the two options.

Is torture more painful and cruel than execution? Possibly so. It depends on the level of torture, and the will of a person to live. At some point, people would rather die than be in pain.

Is it more or less socially unconscionable to torture instead of executing? I find execution to be the highest level of barbarism, personally. But objectively, I suppose execution may seem more "clean" than torture. Torture implies violence and cruelty. Execution is quick and it simply ends the entire situation all together. Execution is probably the more politically correct of the two options.

Is torture a better deterrant than execution? It probably is. Execution is all or nothing. People who face death merely face the end of existence. People who are tortured have to deal with varying levels and lengths of punishment, with memories and possibly scars that will remain with them throughout their lives. People don't want to experience extended agony, but many people don't care one way or another about dying.

I think it's difficult to define the line where torture begins. Where does reasonable "punishment" end and "torture" begin? I think there is a hazy line where that varies from person to person. Of course the more extreme forms of torture are obvious.

What levels of torture would be acceptable if we were to allow it as a form of justice in our society? Where would the lines be drawn? Personally I would not want to see any form of torture or punishment that has permanent results - mainly because there is almost always a possibility of innocence, even in situtuations where a person may seem quite guilty. It is unbearable to think that someone may have arms cut off, or be brutally beaten, or face other intense agony, only to eventually be proven innocent.

The same goes for execution, which is one of the main reasons why I am against it. If the most remote possibility exists that a person is innocent, execution should not be an option. And, society, judges, juries and witnesses being only human... that possibility almost always does exist.

In the end I would rather see execution outlawed, and stronger punishments put in place. I don't know if I would go to far as to suggest brutally agonizing punishment (or "torture") but punishments should be harsh in some circumstances. However, I also think that in any society, we must try to -truly- reform the criminal, rather than just punishing them and leaving them to their own devices afterward. We are all human and many of us can change eventually. What better way to lessen crime than to actually improve a criminal's perspective and behavior and desire? To help him and make him a better person. That is an ideal goal.

Answer 3

As an atheist, I form of do no longer care what 'God' might or will possibly no longer do. i'm extra concerned with what human beings do. Now, to my eyes, we've loopy human beings in Christianity and that they make a rustic it is secular and the place gays are particularly unfastened. We even have loopy human beings in Islam who create international places that are theocracies and the place gays might desire to pretend to be directly just to stay to tell the story. it form of feels particularly sparkling which faith is friendlier to the gays. evaluating easily executions on earth performed by skill of easily people to a (IMHO) make have faith torture by skill of a (IMHO) make have faith entity upon the (IMHO) make have faith soul is ludicrous. i can't see why any liberal might shield Islam/Muslims nor why any atheist might part with the creators of theocracies over the creators of a mundane government.

Answer 4

The problem is we as humans do not know where to draw the line. Some may see one act of punishment inhumane while others see it humane. What do you think we should do with these people who rape and murder little kids, I say don't kill them right away, stone them to death, don't let them sit in a cell the rest of their life in the air-condition with 3 meals. They have a better life then people who have committed no crime.

Answer 5

Well, personally - I'll go for the execution every time. I don't like pain. Not one little bit. Life isn't so fun that I'm willing to stick it out suffering.

Answer 6

hard question, i`ll answer it this way.
if i`d have to choose from a fast and clean execution and a long and painful torture, with cutting the limbs off and burning my skin, i`d pick the execution.

Answer 7

Is God almighty and lovely? Multiple choice question. would you like to try?
A-Because he can´t destroy the soul of evil people instead of that he send them to everlasting torture.
B- He is a sadic that instead of stop the existence of the soul of evil people he prefer to torture them.

C- The preaching message that Christianity do about hell is wrong.

Answer 8

u can't just torture some peopa fr no reason cause torture is way worse than execution;.... u torture only those persons who have tortured persons fr no reason......... in execution u achive moksha or nirvana whateva u call it straightaway while while torturing u recieve physical and mental pain fr quite some time and u betta trust me it pains and hurts a lot...............

Answer 9

Sending to jail is enough. Jail is also called correctional facilities. We send those people there as punishment and at the same time giving them a chance to correct themselves.

Answer 10

All I know is Satan wants us to torture and execute. We should act less like Satan and more like angels, Jesus, and the lord almighty GOD.