Academic

Pardo & Patterson on the Philosophical Foundations of Law & Neuroscience

By Lawrence Solum

Michael S. Pardo and Dennis Patterson (University of Alabama School of Law and European University Institute) have posted Philosophical Foundations of Law and Neuroscience on SSRN. Here is the abstract:

According to a wide variety of scholars, scientists, and policymakers, neuroscience promises to transform law. Many neurolegalists ? those championing the power of neuroscience for law ? proceed from problematic premises regarding the relationship of mind to brain. In this Article, we make the case that their accounts of the nature of mind are implausible and that their conclusions are overblown. Thus, their claims of the power of neuroscience for law cannot be sustained. We discuss a wide array of examples including lie detection, criminal-law doctrine, economic decision-making, moral decision-making, and jurisprudence.

Highly recommended. Download it while its hot!

Full post as published by Legal Theory Blog on October 28, 2010 (boomark / email).