The “Ticking Bomb” Scenario

Reviews the book, Torture and the ticking bomb by Bob Brecher (see record 2007-13833-000). I opened Brecher's 120-page small-print volume eager to learn more about the “moral vacuity” that continues to feed the ticking bomb debate. I was soon engulfed by the arguments posed by both sides of the issue. And here I must compliment Brecher because he does not reflexively dismiss the advocates of torture as characterologically flawed or morally “evil” misanthropes. Instead, he carefully cites the errors in their arguments, using logic, analysis, expert opinion, and moral reasoning. By the time I reached Brecher's closing pages, I was impressed with the way he had carefully woven his criticism of the ticking bomb scenario. I cannot imagine a better analog to the ticking bomb scenario, or a more supportive argument in favor of reading and accepting Brecher's thoughts and arguments. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2008 APA, all rights reserved)