
scienceMar 13, 20231:12:00pending
229 | Nita Farahany on Ethics, Law, and Neurotechnology
About this episode
Every time our brain does some thinking, there are associated physical processes. In particular, electric currents and charged particles jump between neurons, creating associated electromagnetic fields. These fields can in principle be detected with proper technology, opening the possibility for reading your mind. That technology is currently primitive, but rapidly advancing, and it's not too early to start thinking about legal and ethical consequences when governments and corporations have access to your thoughts. Nita Farahany is a law professor and bioethicist who discusses these issues in her new book, The Battle for Your Brain: Defending the Right to Think Freely in the Age of Neurotechnology.Support Mindscape on Patreon.Nita Farahany received a J.D. and a Ph.D. in philosophy from Duke University. She is currently the Robinson O. Everett Distinguished Professor of Law & Philosophy at Duke, as well as Founding Director of the Duke Initiative for Science & Society. She has served on a number of government commissions, including the Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues. She is a Fellow of the American Law Institute and of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and was awarded the Duke Law School Distinguished Teaching Award.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Get every episode summarized
Each time Sean Carroll's Mindscape publishes, we email you a written briefing from the transcript — the topics, who appeared, and any specific claims, with the ad reads skipped.
Email me new episodesFree for 3 shows. No card needed.
Hosts & guests
No transcript yet
This episode has not been transcribed. Request it and it moves to the front of the queue.
More episodes
More from Sean Carroll's Mindscape

Mindscape Ask Me Anything, Sean Carroll | September 2026
Sean Carroll's Mindscape
Sep 14, 20263:52:06completed

367 | Jared Diamond on the Course of History and the Role of leaders
Sean Carroll's Mindscape
Sep 7, 20261:21:49failed

366 | Jim Al-Khalili on Time, Quantum, Biology, and Cosmology
Sean Carroll's Mindscape
Aug 31, 20261:16:42pending

365 | Vitor Cardoso on Why Black Holes Are Special
Sean Carroll's Mindscape
Aug 24, 20261:11:17pending