[CS] cogsci and politics in the news (Fitzgerald meets Loftus)

[Neil Stillings]

As a primary participant in the "false memory wars," I'm sure Loftus  
has had both worse and better days, in court and in academic debates.  
A couple of cognitive science implications:

Can relevant scientific evidence actually be introduced and reviewed  
effectively within existing US courtroom procedures?

Given what we know about memory, "I'm not sure," or "I don't recall,"  
is often the best answer in legally-binding testimony. We are over- 
confident about our memories relative to the enduring records that  
are floating around in contemporary society (phone records, emails,  
security cameras, credit card bills, etc, etc).

As in many recent political cases (including most of the Clinton  
case), what Scooter was ultimately charged with was lying to a  
prosecutor, which is illegal, not for what he was allegedly lying  
about. -- Neil

On Oct 27, 2006, at 11:40 AM, Lee Spector wrote:

> Of possible interest...
>
> http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/ 
> Memory_expert_in_CIA_leak_case_1027.html
>
>  -Lee
>
> --
> Lee Spector, Professor of Computer Science
> School of Cognitive Science, Hampshire College
> 893 West Street, Amherst, MA 01002-3359
> lspector at hampshire.edu, http://hampshire.edu/lspector/
> Phone: 413-559-5352, Fax: 413-559-5438
>
> _______________________________________________
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---------------------------------------
Neil Stillings
Professor of Psychology & Dean
School of Cognitive Science
Hampshire College
893 West Street
Amherst, MA 01002-3359

administrative assistants: 413-559-5502 or 413-559-5501
fax: 413-559-5438
email: nstillings at hampshire.edu


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