Philosophy of Debate

1
Philosophy of Debate

• Debate, because it involves human decision-making
  is subjective
• No right way to debate
• Judging, too, is subjective

2
Pros and Cons

• Cons
• Confusion
• Lack of Certainty
• Desire for rules

• Pros
• Creativity
• Free Expression
• Safe to explore

3
Adjudicating the round

• Debating is a contest of ideas
• Not language proficiency, though the contest is
  in English
• Not speaking skills, though an argument that is
  expressed well is likely to be more compelling
• Not merely definitions, though how a motion is
  interpreted may affect a teams chance of
  winning.
• Not your personal feelings and opinions about the
  truth of the motion, though you have to tell the
  debaters which arguments you believed.

4
Priorities and Guiding Values

• Tabula Rasa the blank slate
• Education participants should be encouraged to
  improve and develop
• Non-intervention let the debaters debate, dont
  make their efforts irrelevant or do their jobs
  for them

5
Debaters Rights

• Attentive Adjudicators
• Adjudicators know the rules and conventions
• Adjudicators explain their decisions