Does torture have a place in democracy? It’s a polemic question, but hosts John Perry and Ken Taylor decide to dive right in, and get at what the philosophy of torture in a democratic society. John starts things off: is torture ever acceptable? Though the concept may be repugnant, the hosts postulate situations where perhaps torture might be acceptable: namely “ticking-bomb” situations, where thousands of people’s lives might be in danger. After some debate, Ken shifts the debate to questioning what exactly torture looks like in a liberal democracy.

在休卡·卡兰塔里发表《流动哲学报告》之后，约翰和肯欢迎里德大学政治学教授达利斯·雷贾利(Darius rejali)来到节目中。雷贾利描述了他在伊朗长大，生活在一个经常使用酷刑的社会。他接着说，酷刑是一种滥用的政治权力，并否认保护公民不受国家侵害的人权。肯问瑞贾利，当民主国家施行酷刑时，情况是否更糟，三位教授讨论了瑞贾利的著作《酷刑与民主》三位作者还讨论了酷刑如何区别于其他类型的胁迫(如监狱时间和金钱)，以及酷刑是否有效。

Ken, John and Darius then take questions from callers, beginning with a inquiry from a former army reservist about whether or not anyone would hesitate to torture if it meant saving a member of one’s own family. The three talk about whether or not torture used in times of war is more acceptable than torture used as part of the state’s police power. After more talk, Ken questions whether or not “rational” talk an philosophizing can ever really affect whether or not we regard torture as acceptable, as the decision to torture is often made in situations inimical to rationality. The show concludes with an invitation for listeners to share their views on torture on the PhilosophyTalk.com.

Roving Philosophical Report (Seek to 6:50): The Roving Philosophical Reporter investigates torture what looks like in the United States—the land of the free and the home of the brave. Shuka Kalantari details the brutal torture of a Mauritanian man currently imprisoned in Guantanamo Bay—a persona who has never been charged with a crime.

60-Second Philosopher (Seek to 46:50): The Sixty-Second Philosopher Ian Sholes mediates about the historical ubiquity—and continual ineffectiveness—of torture around the world.