Lie Detection
Trial by FireHistorically, there have been some weird and wonderful ways of extracting the truth. Before the scientific revolution of the 17th century, when rational investigation was applied to reveal the facts, God was the arbiter of truth.
In English courts until the 13th century, truth was tested by ordeals of fire and water, on the basis that a truthful person would be protected by God.
Suspects were forced to carry a red-hot iron bar for nine paces; or if they preferred, they could walk across nine red-hot ploughshares! If they were burnt, then God hadn't shown for them, so they must be guilty.
Other courts went in for trial by water. Here suspects were put into a sack and thrown into a pond. If they sank this showed innocence, even if they drowned anyway. If they floated this was taken as proof that the suspect was lying.
Such practices were ended in 1215 by edict of the Latern Council.
Bring on the polygraph!fMRI | The Polygraph | Trial by Fire
