The morality and use of torture has been a growing debate in United States politics, especially since the September 11 terrorist attacks. One popular argument uses the logic of a famous Renaissance philosopher, Niccoló Machiavelli, to justify the use of torture. In his book The Prince, Machiavelli lends advice on how to be an effective political leader. He begins by describing different ways a man, or in this case a prince, can establish and maintain a state: through “fortune” (28), “prowess” (28), or “nefarious method[s]” (28). Machiavelli defines “fortune” (28) as a mixture of luck and chance while prowess consists of the ability to do what is necessary, even if it is deemed unethical or untraditional. On the other end of the spectrum, a prince who uses cruelty too often becomes a criminal and gains “power but not glory” (29). Of these approaches, Machiavelli believes that prowess is the most effective, for crime causes subjects to hate their ruler, and fortune is unpredictable. To have
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They used euphemisms when referring to torture, calling their interrogations “enhanced,” “robust,” and “special” (Mayer, 151). They also hired lawyers to help create legal justifications for their actions. President George W. Bush reassured the public that “the Department of Justice reviewed the authorized methods extensively and determined them to be lawful” (Mayer, 155). Machiavelli would support such precautions: he advises that a leader “must be a fox in order to recognize traps, and a lion to frighten off wolves” (57). The torture-using CIA can be thought of as the lions scaring the wolves of terrorism away, and the lawyers and use of euphemisms can be thought of as the foxes to provide legal vindication. However, while the government put in effort to protect the state and have foxy foresight, they did not account for the backlash from the
They used euphemisms when referring to torture, calling their interrogations “enhanced,” “robust,” and “special” (Mayer, 151). They also hired lawyers to help create legal justifications for their actions. President George W. Bush reassured the public that “the Department of Justice reviewed the authorized methods extensively and determined them to be lawful” (Mayer, 155). Machiavelli would support such precautions: he advises that a leader “must be a fox in order to recognize traps, and a lion to frighten off wolves” (57). The torture-using CIA can be thought of as the lions scaring the wolves of terrorism away, and the lawyers and use of euphemisms can be thought of as the foxes to provide legal vindication. However, while the government put in effort to protect the state and have foxy foresight, they did not account for the backlash from the