Abstract
The idea of reading other people’s thoughts is closely related to that of unveiling whether someone is telling the truth or not. Materialized in actual technologies, this concept has changed its shape several times, and the polygraph is one variation that has lasted a long time. The continuity of polygraph testing in Germany is remarkable, not least because these procedures are highly controversial in the scientific domain and in legal practice. In this chapter, Fischer analyses relevant court decisions and interviews with researchers in the field of lie detection in Germany, which are examined from the perspective of science and technology studies (STS). She shows how lie detection both in the judicial context and within neuroscience is associated with an obscure understanding of thought-reading as a fundamental feature of human sensory faculties.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Acknowledgements
This research was supported by German Research Foundation (grant no. 320725678). In particular, the analysis of jurisprudence was developed in close cooperation with my colleague Bettina Paul, for which I express my deepest gratitude. I would also like to thank Torsten Voigt for his constant and constructive support.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2020 The Author(s)
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Fischer, L. (2020). The Idea of Reading Someone’s Thoughts in Contemporary Lie Detection Techniques. In: Schlicht, L., Seemann, C., Kassung, C. (eds) Mind Reading as a Cultural Practice. Palgrave Studies in Science and Popular Culture. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-39419-6_6
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-39419-6_6
Published:
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-39418-9
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-39419-6
eBook Packages: Literature, Cultural and Media StudiesLiterature, Cultural and Media Studies (R0)