Which Ethical Theory gives the morally best action to take in this scenario?
A terrorist threatens to explode bombs in crowded areas of LA and SF (killing possibly tens or even hundreds of thousands of people). The authorities have a video link to him. His unrealistic demands are- a presidential announcement of an immediate withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan, and immediate imposition by Congress of sharia law in the US. His only son is in the US and in federal custody, but says he knows nothing of his fathers plans. You are in charge of Him, and a CIA official suggests opening a video link showing the terrorist his son being tortured until he reveals the bomb locations and how to defuse them (which would be illegal). It is up to you: what ought to be done (what is morally the best thing to do)?
From virtue Ethics: I think the argument would be something like...
1. Given virtue ethics (the four tests for determining morally virtuous acts)
2. Any act that proves virtuous by the four tests is a moral act
3. I am qualified for the role, since I am “the person in charge”
4. Allowing the torture would be socially valued and valuable, because it would save the lives of many civilians
5. Allowing the torture would cause me to become a hero, by stopping the terrorist
6. Allowing the torture would be exactly what my role model would do
7. So, Allowing the torture would be a moral act
Conclusion: Allowing the torture would be morally the best thing to do
What about social contract ethics? or another ethical theory?
