Momentary versus remembered pain

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EphelDuath

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Somebody I was talking to brought up an interesting moral dilemma, which I had difficulty answering. Suppose we develop the technology to complete delete ones’ memories. Given that, would it be morally wrong to emotionally/physically torture a volunteer (say, to develop methods for POWs to resist torture), and then erase all memories of that experience afterwards? Assume no kind of permanent damage is done.
 
Yes, it would still be very wrong! Only now, you would be violating their human dignity twice: first, by torturing them, and second, by erasing their memories.

We are not utilitarians. People are not resources to be used and played with at our whim to get what we want from them.

Torture is not wrong solely because people remember the pain. Consider another scenario. Would it be morally wrong to sexually assault someone “and then erase all memories of that experience afterwards?” I hope the answer to that one is obvious!
 
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