GS4 · 15 marks · 250 words
A terrorist group states that it has concealed a nuclear bomb in Delhi. The authorities have captured the leader of the group. He says that he knows the location of the bomb. He refuses to reveal the location. Torture is guaranteed to produce the information needed to ensure the diffusal of the bomb. (a) Is it ethically acceptable for the authorities to have him tortured to find out where the bomb is and thus save thousands of lives? (b) Suppose instead of catching the leader, the authorities have captured his 16 year old daughter. She is refusing to cooperate with the authorities. In your opinion is it morally justified to have her tortured to acquire necessary information and save thousands of lives?
Answered by 1 topper · CSE 2014
Syllabus: Case Studies on above issues.
How toppers approached it
From the one answer · about 190 words.
Opening
- No separate opening1 of 1
Body
- Continuous prose1 of 1
Close
- No separate close1 of 1
The toppers’ answers
More on Ethical Dilemmas in Government
Ethical concerns and dilemmas arising in government and private institutions, and how a conflict between two duties is resolved.
- Ensuring that government decisions are not influenced by public officials' private interests is a growing concern. Discuss in the context of India. Also enumerate the core principles reflected by OECD guidelines for managing conflict of interest in the public sector.19 answers
- In a democracy, the purpose of the government should be to make it easy for people to do good and difficult to do wrong. Comment.18 answers
- What are the factors which drive people to take law in their own hands rather than following the due process of law? Discuss ways to address the problem of mob justice.18 answers
- A peculiar inhuman situation exists for the people fleeing from war zones - they cannot go back to their homeland for fear of being persecuted and no country is ready to bear their burden due to various reasons. Citing contemporary examples, discuss the ethical issues involved in such situations.17 answers
- It is argued by some that nuclear weapons have acted more as a deterrent than leading to war and mass destruction. In this context, discuss whether it is ethically right to possess nuclear weapons to create nuclear deterrence.16 answers