The Ethics of Interrogation: Professional Responsibility in an Age of Terror

By: Paul Lauritzen

Narrated by: Kevin Pierce

Can harsh interrogation techniques and torture ever be morally justified for a nation at war or under the threat of imminent attack? In the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, terrorist strikes, the United States and other liberal democracies were forced to grapple once again with the issue of balancing national security concerns against the protection of individual civil and political rights. This question was particularly poignant when US forces took prisoners in Afghanistan and Iraq who arguably had information about additional attacks.

In this volume, ethicist Paul Lauritzen takes on ethical debates about counterterrorism techniques that are increasingly central to US foreign policy and discusses the ramifications for the future of interrogation.

Lauritzen examines how doctors, lawyers, psychologists, military officers, and other professionals addressed the issue of the appropriate limits in interrogating detainees. In the case of each of these professions, a vigorous debate ensued about whether the interrogation policy developed by the Bush administration violated codes of ethics governing professional practice. These codes are critical, according to Lauritzen, because they provide resources for democracies and professionals seeking to balance concerns about safety with civil liberties, while also shaping the character of those within these professional guilds.

This volume argues that some of the techniques used at Guantanamo Bay and elsewhere were morally impermissible; nevertheless, the healthy debates that raged among professionals provide hope that we may safeguard human rights and the rule of law more effectively in the future.

©2013 Georgetown University Press (P)2013 Redwood Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"Paul Lauritzen skillfully addresses one of the most difficult questions confronting liberal democracies: the limits of interrogation. Masterfully weaving distinct themes reflecting a sophisticated interdisciplinary approach, Lauritzen paints a broad mosaic with great detail and precision. This is an important book for academics, professionals, policy makers, and the general public." (Amos N. Guiora, SJ, Quinney College of Law, University of Utah)

"This volume provides a superb and analytically precise analysis of the tensions between legitimate concerns for security in an age of terror and maintenance of core American and professional values. It assesses the role of military psychologists, lawyers, and line military personnel in maintaining professional standards in the face of strong pressures of perceived urgency and exigency. Required reading for anyone seeking moral clarity on these questions." (Martin L. Cook, Stockdale Professor of Professional Military Ethics, US Naval War College)

"This book should be read by all citizens concerned about the effects of counterterrorism on the moral habits of the professions and democratic public life. With exquisite attention to nuance and detail, Lauritzen ranges across debates by psychologists, lawyers, medical providers, and military leaders about their professional and civic responsibilities in the age of terror. The Ethics of Interrogation is a brilliant model of interdisciplinary moral and political analysis." (Richard B. Miller, department of religious studies and director, Poynter Center for the Study of Ethics and American Institutions, Indiana University)