Reductio ad absurdum - torture edition

[Golden Applesauce]

The thing about utilitarianism is that it isn't a method to come up with a good solution to a hypothetical problem, which is what people generally want.

It just finds the best solution.

[Iason Ouabache]

I think there is one fundamental question that can clear this up fairly quickly.






In the originally posted scenario above... is my daughter, like, really hot?

YES!!!

[Reginald Ret]

Here's another poser: Suppose you're an innocent suspect whom your captors are convinced is a terrorist. They don't believe your protestations, so they decide to torture you into a confession. The more you protest your innocence, the more frustrated they get that you won't "crack." What do you say to get them to stop? How do you get them not to decide they need to hurt you even more?

Here is the answer i have been looking for in ages.