Debate

For other uses, see Debate (disambiguation).
"Debater" redirects here. For the artificial intelligence project, see Project Debater.
13th-century illustration of a Jew and a Christian debating in a work by the Jewish convert Petrus Alphonsi

Debate is a process that involves formal discourse, discussion, and oral addresses on a particular topic or collection of topics, often with a moderator and an audience. In a debate, arguments are put forward for opposing viewpoints. Historically, debates have occurred in public meetings, academic institutions, debate halls, coffeehouses, competitions, and legislative assemblies.[1] Debates have also been conducted for educational and recreational purposes,[2] usually associated with educational establishments and debating societies.[3] These debates emphasize logical consistency, factual accuracy, and emotional appeal to an audience.[4][5] Modern competitive debate also includes rules for participants to discuss and decide upon the framework of the debate (how it will be judged).[5]

The term "debate" may also apply to a more continuous, inclusive, and less formalized process through which issues are explored and resolved across a range of agencies and among the general public. For example, the European Commission in 2021 published a Green Paper on Ageing, intended to generate such a debate on "policies to address the challenges and opportunities of ageing" in upcoming years.[6] Pope Francis has also referred to the "need for forthright and honest debate" on society and the environment in his 2015 encyclical letter Laudato si'.[7]

  1. ^ The New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, 4th ed., 1993 p. 603.
  2. ^ Rodger, D; Stewart-Lord, A (2019). "Students' perceptions of debating as a learning strategy: A qualitative study". Nurse Education in Practice. 42: 102681. doi:10.1016/j.nepr.2019.102681. PMID 31805450.
  3. ^ Al-Mahrooqi & Tabakow, R. & M. "Effectiveness of Debate in ESL/EFL-Context Courses in the Arabian Gulf: A Comparison of Two Recent Student-Centered Studies in Oman and in Dubai, U.A.E." (PDF). 21caf.org. 21st Century Academic Forum. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  4. ^ Clark, Alex (2016-08-06). "Why debating still matters". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-03-21.
  5. ^ a b Lindemann, Erika. "The Debating Societies: Electronic Edition". docsouth.unc.edu. Retrieved 2023-03-21.
  6. ^ European Commission, Green Paper on Ageing, COM (2021) 50 final, adopted on 27 January 2021, accessed 9 May 2024
  7. ^ Pope Francis, Laudato si', paragraph 16, published 24 May 2015, accessed 9 May 2024