Definitions HQ

Torture (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠what lovers of human dignity like Dershowitz would legalize to defend that dignity — its ultimate degradation.

Torture (n.) justified ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠by utility justifies terror too: if you may torture to save more lives, why not bomb the occupier to prevent greater violence?

Torture (n.) openly ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠admitted is not less hypocrisy but something more: 'If you just want to torture secretly, then why are you saying it publicly?'

Torture (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠usually banned in principle with exceptions enough to allow it whenever wanted; a principled yes that is never realized prohibits it far better.

Torture (n.) wants ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠more than information: it aims at the secret pact that binds the victim to a community, making him reveal not only what he knows but what he is.