Hurma & Birka
Hurma Hurma
Birka Birka
Birka Birka
I just read that during the Peloponnesian War Athens used torture on captured spies—what would you say about that from a strategic and ethical standpoint?
Hurma Hurma
From a strategic view, brutal methods can force quick confessions and send a chilling warning, but they also breed deep resentment and can rally enemies. Ethically, they violate the very principles of justice we claim to uphold; a strategy built on torture ultimately undermines the legitimacy of our cause. In the long run, a humane approach tends to win more allies and keeps the moral high ground.
Birka Birka
So you think “torture is a moral hazard” and “humanity wins allies”? Fine, but the Spartans used the harshest discipline to forge their warriors, and Rome’s use of crucifixion terrorised the provinces. In the heat of war, if you refuse to scare your enemies, you’re giving them time to grow. I’ll take the moral high ground if I can, but I’ll also bring a sword in one hand and a citation in the other. History likes to remember the bold, not the soft.