How dangerous can the sterilized needle be? : torture, terrorism, and the self-refutation of the liberal-democratic state

The paper addresses the problem of the justification, legitimization or authorization of torture as a method of interrogation in an emergency state. The paper starts with the analysis of ambiguities of the definitions of torture and terrorism. There are discussed the arguments used in favor of moral justification of torture in the emergency state based on the ticking time bomb scenario. The paper discusses also the argument from necessity used in the post facto authorization of torture in the “Dirty Harry case”. Finally, the paper poses the question about legalization of torture. The main thesis of the paper is that the idea of the justification or legitimization of torture corrupts the rule of law and undermines the main values of the liberal state, and therefore is unacceptable in any form and in any circumstances