LEGACY CONTENT. If you are looking for Voteview.com, PLEASE CLICK HERE

This site is an archived version of Voteview.com archived from University of Georgia on May 23, 2017. This point-in-time capture includes all files publicly linked on Voteview.com at that time. We provide access to this content as a service to ensure that past users of Voteview.com have access to historical files. This content will remain online until at least January 1st, 2018. UCLA provides no warranty or guarantee of access to these files.

Understanding Science and Scientific Methods:
An Overview for Lawyers

SUMMARY -- 12 September 2005



Class on 29 August 2005 Covered Topics 1 and 2.a. on the Syllabus



  1. Overview -- The Collision of Science and the Law --

    1. Differences between Science and the Law

    2. Epistemological questions: (Epistemology -- Part of Philosophy that deals with the origin, nature, and limits of knowledge)

      1. What is scientific knowledge?

      2. How do you distinguish science from non-science? (Scientific Validity)

      3. When is scientific knowledge reliable?

      4. Should scientific knowledge have a special status?
  2. Dioxin and Agent Orange

    1. Basic Science of Dioxin --

      1. A man-made family of chlorinated chemicals

      2. They are fat-soluble

      3. Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin -- TCDD -- the most toxic and famous has a biological half-life in humans ³ 7 years.

      4. Shown to be a very Potent Carcinogen and Teratogen in animal tests.

      5. TCDD works by latching onto the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR).

      6. Dose-Response Function not known with certainty

      7. Chloracne and an increased risk of cancer are the best documented toxic effects.

      8. Yushchenko -- 100,000 picograms TCDD per gram of blood fat. RECORD -- 144,000 pg TCDD/g blood fat

    2. The Use of Agent Orange in Vietnam