Tom Fudge: People lie. They lie all the time. It's just a fact. There are countless situations where lying can give us an advantage in life. Sometimes, we lie just to spare a person's feelings. But just as lying can give us an advantage, it's in the interest of certain authorities and associates to detect our lies. Lie detector tests have been a part of law enforcement investigations for several decades. This, despite the fact that those tests have never been allowed as evidence in a trial. With the march of technology, that could change.
Now, several companies and agencies are experimenting with MRI technology that creates the brain scans they use to spot brain injuries and to study the workings of the brain. Some experts believe that by mapping the brain's activity, you can tell when a person is lying. This assertion is controversial to say the least. But if it's true, imagine the possible effect on our world, if you really could tell, beyond a reasonable doubt, that someone is lying. Would we use this as evidence in a trial? If you suspect an employee of theft or aiding a competitor, would you hook her up to the machine? If you're fiance says he really loves you, would it give you some reassurance if he would be willing to say it under a brain scan?
The Ethics Center is co-sponsoring with the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center a monthly series called 'Exploring Ethics.' This month's event is entitled 'Reading Minds and Detecting Lies,' and will be held Wednesday evening, 5:30-7:00 PM, at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center in Balboa Park. The event is open free of charge to the public.
Guest
- Joel Huizenga, founder and CEO of No Lie MRI .
- Chuck Sevilla , a local attorney who has great interest and expertise on the topic of using lie detection in the courtroom.
-
Larry Hinman
, professor of Philosophy at the University of San Diego and co-director of the
Center for Ethics in Science and Technology
.
