Summary of Intro. Ethics 15.1 Torture and Solitary Confinement (Gawande)

Summary of "Intro. Ethics 15.1 Torture and Solitary Confinement (Gawande)"

This lecture discusses Atul Gawande’s 2009 New Yorker article Hellhole, which addresses the ethical issues surrounding long-term solitary confinement in prisons. The article explores the psychological damage caused by solitary confinement, questions the justifications for its use, and considers alternatives based on reforms in other countries.

Main Ideas and Concepts

Ethical Problem of Long-Term Solitary Confinement:
- The practice causes severe, lasting psychological harm.
- Raises questions about whether it constitutes cruel and unusual punishment or even torture.
- Difficult to morally distinguish between solitary confinement used as torture (e.g., Terry Anderson) and as punishment (e.g., Bobby DeLeo and Robert Felton).
Harlow’s Monkey Experiments:
- Rhesus monkeys raised in isolation showed severe psychological abnormalities despite physical health.
- Artificial “mother” dolls (terry cloth and wire) demonstrated monkeys’ attachment needs.
- Isolation longer than three months caused permanent psychological damage.
- Raises ethical concerns about isolation in animals, paralleling human solitary confinement.
Case Studies of Solitary Confinement:
1. Terry Anderson – Journalist held in solitary confinement as torture by Hezbollah for seven years.
  - Experienced rapid mental deterioration and “blank mind.”
  - Snapped mentally after prolonged isolation.
2. Bobby DeLeo – Convict punished with five years in supermax solitary for prison escape.
  - Experienced panic attacks, hallucinations, and paranoia.
  - Lost ability to engage socially and function normally.
3. Robert Felton – Convict held in solitary for 14.5 years due to behavioral issues.
  - Exhibited hallucinations, rage, and self-destructive behavior.
  - Isolation worsened his problems rather than rehabilitating him.
Moral Equivalence of Solitary Confinement:
- If Anderson’s solitary confinement is torture, then the punishment of DeLeo and Felton is equally morally objectionable.
- State use of solitary confinement on citizens carries a heavy moral burden.
Common Justifications for Solitary Confinement:
1. Discipline and Violence Reduction:
  - Argument: Solitary confinement is necessary to punish rule-breaking and reduce violence.
  - Evidence does not support this: studies show no consistent reduction in prison violence after supermax openings.
2. Lack of Alternatives:
  - Argument: No other effective ways to manage violent or disruptive prisoners.
  - Counterpoint: Other options exist; solitary confinement is neither morally justified nor cost-effective (costs ~$50,000 per inmate annually).
Historical and Social Context:
- Supermax prisons and mass solitary confinement are recent phenomena (since 1983).
- U.S. incarceration rates have quadrupled in 30 years without increasing prison space, causing overcrowding and idleness, which likely increase violence.
Alternatives and Reforms (British Example):
- British prisons faced similar problems but reformed by:
  - Reducing isolation.
  - Providing prisoners with more control, work, education, and social opportunities.
  - Housing prisoners in small, stable groups to reduce chaos.
  - Offering mental health treatment.
  - Implementing incentive systems for good behavior.
  - Establishing independent oversight to monitor and adjust policies.
- These reforms drastically reduced long-term solitary confinement and prison violence.
Political and Social Barriers:
- Most U.S. state prison commissioners reportedly support reducing solitary confinement.
- However, political leaders avoid reform due to fear of being labeled “soft on crime.”
- Raises questions about democratic governance and whether elected officials should follow public opinion or act on moral and practical grounds.

Methodology / List of Key Points

Psychological Impact of Solitary Confinement:
- Isolation causes mental deterioration, hallucinations, apathy, anger, and behavioral problems.
- Effects can be permanent after prolonged isolation.
Evaluating Justifications for Solitary Confinement:
- Review empirical evidence on violence and punishment effectiveness.
- Challenge assumptions about necessity and effectiveness.
- Consider ethical implications of state-imposed isolation.
Learning from International Examples:
- Study reforms in other countries (e.g., UK).
- Implement prisoner-centered policies that reduce isolation.
- Provide mental health support and meaningful activities.
- Monitor outcomes through independent bodies.
Addressing Political Challenges:
- Recognize political resistance due to public opinion.
- Engage in public education to shift societal attitudes.
- Advocate for leadership that prioritizes ethical and effective reforms.

Speakers / Sources Featured

Atul Gawande – Author of Hellhole, central to the lecture.
Harry Harlow – Psychologist known for

Notable Quotes

— 03:43 — « In one of his tests he found that if sharp spikes were made to randomly thrust out of the mother's body when the rhesus babies held it, they waited patiently for the spikes to recede and returned to clutching it. »

— 06:41 — « The mind is blank. I always thought I was smart. Where are all the things I learned, the books I read, the poems I memorized? There's nothing there, just a formless gray black misery. My mind's gone dead. »

— 09:46 — « He began hearing voices on the television talking directly to him, so he ended up putting the television under his bed and rarely took it out. »

— 23:41 — « Should representatives simply govern according to the will of their constituents, or should they do what is right, practically speaking and morally speaking, even when this goes against the will of the people? »

— 24:04 — « All too often politicians seem to govern according to their own self-interest. »