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| Debates |
Debates
A formal debate is an organized discussion of a well-defined topic, and as such provides a forum for applied clear thinking. The topic of a debate is often expressed in terms of a question that can be answered as either yes or no. Speakers take turns delivering prepared statements and then making impromptu responses to each other’s arguments. A debate is designed to encourage participants to be thorough and accurate, and to support claims with evidence. Speakers use their skills in rhetoric to attempt to persuade members of an audience to accept the arguments that they present.
Formal debates are governed by rules designed to lead to a defined conclusion.
Discussions in legislatures, courtrooms, and political campaigns often assume the style of a formal debate. A debate is typically followed by some procedure to indicate the audience’s preference for the various arguments: members of a legislature cast their votes, a jury deliberates, an audience may vote or cheer, an academic community may decide to accept or reject a line of research.
Note that the decision of the audience in a debate does not necessarily correspond to the truth, or to the most logical argument, or to the best-researched argument. While the vote of an audience may be influenced by the presentations in a debate, it also depends on the pre-existing interests and prejudices of the audience.
Informal debates can also be stimulating, informative, and entertaining as long as the participants feel emotionally secure and retain a sense of humour. At times, informal debates can degenerate into disagreements over poorly defined concepts. In such disagreements, limited information is provided and limited logic is used. Conditions can deteriorate further into verbal battles in which statements are made to intimidate and humiliate an opponent. Then the clever use of language becomes a weapon rather than a means of communication and the goal is not clarity, but victory in a struggle for status.
Clear thinkers need to recognize and then avoid wasting energy in vociferous informal debates.
In summary, the ability to speak and write is one of the most dominant features of human culture, and mastery of language is one of the greatest aids to clear thinking.
Clear thinking is imperilled when we spice our language with lots of emotion, emphasis, suggestion, and innuendo. We need to determine the essential arguments being presented, and the reliability of information used as supporting evidence. While entertaining and emotional language can add fervour to everyday life, it does little to enhance clear thinking and valid reasoning.
A formal debate is an organized discussion of a well-defined topic, and as such provides a forum for applied clear thinking. The topic of a debate is often expressed in terms of a question that can be answered as either yes or no. Speakers take turns delivering prepared statements and then making impromptu responses to each other’s arguments. A debate is designed to encourage participants to be thorough and accurate, and to support claims with evidence. Speakers use their skills in rhetoric to attempt to persuade members of an audience to accept the arguments that they present.
Formal debates are governed by rules designed to lead to a defined conclusion.
Discussions in legislatures, courtrooms, and political campaigns often assume the style of a formal debate. A debate is typically followed by some procedure to indicate the audience’s preference for the various arguments: members of a legislature cast their votes, a jury deliberates, an audience may vote or cheer, an academic community may decide to accept or reject a line of research.
Note that the decision of the audience in a debate does not necessarily correspond to the truth, or to the most logical argument, or to the best-researched argument. While the vote of an audience may be influenced by the presentations in a debate, it also depends on the pre-existing interests and prejudices of the audience.
Informal debates can also be stimulating, informative, and entertaining as long as the participants feel emotionally secure and retain a sense of humour. At times, informal debates can degenerate into disagreements over poorly defined concepts. In such disagreements, limited information is provided and limited logic is used. Conditions can deteriorate further into verbal battles in which statements are made to intimidate and humiliate an opponent. Then the clever use of language becomes a weapon rather than a means of communication and the goal is not clarity, but victory in a struggle for status.
Clear thinkers need to recognize and then avoid wasting energy in vociferous informal debates.
In summary, the ability to speak and write is one of the most dominant features of human culture, and mastery of language is one of the greatest aids to clear thinking.
Clear thinking is imperilled when we spice our language with lots of emotion, emphasis, suggestion, and innuendo. We need to determine the essential arguments being presented, and the reliability of information used as supporting evidence. While entertaining and emotional language can add fervour to everyday life, it does little to enhance clear thinking and valid reasoning.
