Philosophical Foundations of Law and Neuroscience

40 Pages Posted: 6 Feb 2009 Last revised: 26 Dec 2013

See all articles by Michael S. Pardo

Michael S. Pardo

Georgetown University Law Center

Dennis Patterson

Rutgers University School of Law, Camden; University of Surrey - School of Law

Date Written: February 6, 2009

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.

Keywords: Neuroscience, fMRI, Mind, Brain, Mereological Fallacy, Lie Detection, Deception, Voluntariness, Intent, Knowledge, Economic Decision-Making, Moral Decision-Making, Jurisprudence, Legal Decision-Making

Suggested Citation

Pardo, Michael S. and Patterson, Dennis, Philosophical Foundations of Law and Neuroscience (February 6, 2009). University of Illinois Law Review, 2010, U of Alabama Public Law Research Paper No. 1338763, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1338763 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1338763

Michael S. Pardo (Contact Author)

Georgetown University Law Center ( email )

600 New Jersey Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20001
United States

HOME PAGE: http://www.law.georgetown.edu/faculty/michael-s-pardo/

Dennis Patterson

Rutgers University School of Law, Camden ( email )

Camden, NJ 08102-1203
United States
856-225-6369 (Phone)
856-751-8752 (Fax)

University of Surrey - School of Law ( email )

United Kingdom

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
2,410
Abstract Views
13,140
Rank
11,076
PlumX Metrics