Debate

We explain what a debate is, what types exist, its objectives, structure and other characteristics. Also, the rules that govern them.

What is a debate?

a debate is an organized contrast of ideas and points of view between two or more peopleat the end of which they must reach some kind of agreement or intermediate point, thanks to the organized and peaceful presentation of their arguments. The debates are generally oral, although they can also take place in writing through appropriate communication platforms, as long as they form a structured conversation.

Throughout human history, debates have been the preferred form of exchange of points of view in formal settingsacademics or politicians.

In them, people resort to words to express their opinions, objections or points of view, in the hope of convincing others, instead of violence to impose themselves on them. In fact, to ensure that the debate is organized, there is usually a moderator who assigns turns and ensures mutual understanding.

Many thinkers have studied debate and proposed models of exchange, from the ancient philosophers and political orators of Greco-Roman antiquity, to modern ones such as Karl Popper, or politicians such as Americans Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas. Thus, for example, within contemporary Legislative Assemblies, debate is used to approve or repeal laws and make decisions.

It is also common for debate to be part of teaching techniques and methods in school and other academic institutions. This is because combines in-depth study of the subject matter on which it will be argued, with oratory skills to convincingly present one's arguments.

See also: Argumentation

Characteristics of the debates

The debates are characterized by the following:

• It consists of a organized and argued exchange of ideas and/or points of view.
• It can occur between two or more people, orally or, sometimes, in writing.
• Has a moderator to distribute speaking time equitably and assign turns, maintaining order in the debate.
• The argumentative confrontation occurs based on a pre-agreed set of rules or debate rules.
• There is usually an audience watching the debate. Depending on who was most eloquent in their arguments, the public can choose a “winner.”
• The purpose of the debate is to reach some type of conclusion from the ideas presented.

Types of debate

There can be many different types and styles of debate, depending on the set of rules or norms that are agreed upon in advance. However, depending on whether there is an official set of rules for debating or whether these are set spontaneously and improvised, we can distinguish between formal debates and informal debates, respectively.

• Formal debates: They have clear and pre-established rules, and a moderator who ensures compliance with them. In them the forms must be taken care of and generally the topic to be discussed is very well defined.
• Informal discussions: characterized by argumentative freedom, they are not usually agreed upon in advance, nor do they have formally established rules. They also do not usually have a moderator.

Structure of the debate

The structure that governs debates is normally agreed upon in advance, and is part of the norms or rules of debate, known to those who will participate in it. However, broadly speaking, every formal debate consists of four phases:

• Opening. Led by the moderator, the opening consists of an introduction to the topic of the debate, emphasizing its validity, importance or topicality, and also the two positions that will confront each other in the debate. Then he does the same with those who will debate, explaining his level of expertise in the matter and his professional or academic career.
• Body of debate. In this section, the leading role corresponds to those who debate, who will generally have two blocks of time of equal length, to first present one point of view, then the other, and finally argue for or against. The interaction between debaters should be mediated by the moderator when necessary.
• Questions and answers. Once the bulk of the debate has been presented, the moderator normally asks some questions of general interest, so that the two debaters can answer them in their own way. Finally, the moderator may open the public to participation so that they can ask, in turn, the questions they consider pertinent.
• Conclusion. In this last section, a brief summary of what was stated will be made, and, if there is one, the winner of the debate, or the conclusion reached jointly by the debaters, will be announced. This is the closing of the debate.

Objectives of a debate

Every debate has the fundamental task of contrast available points of view on a subjectthrough two or more speakers, in a serious, argued and frontal manner, so that those who attend the debate can receive pertinent information and can form their own opinion.

This means that the purpose of the debate is not really to winsince it is not a contest, although each debater will strive to convince the others as much as possible of their point of view, as is normal.

Rules of a debate

The rules of a debate can be very diverse, but in general they tend to look like the following:

• The moderator has the authority throughout the debate, and must use it to establish the most fair, equitable and respectful conditions possible for the deployment of ideas.
• The debate must occur in an organized, peaceful and respectful mannerno arguments ad hominemnor exercises of physical or psychological violence.
• Debaters must limit themselves to the topic of the debateand not abandon it in favor of others that are more similar or convenient to them.
• Interruption of the other must be avoidedalthough it is possible to have the right to reply and, in certain cases, the authorization of the moderator to relieve.
• Interventions should be as brief and specific as possibleso as not to monopolize time and prevent the other from expressing themselves.

Continue with: Seminar

References

• “Debate” on Wikipedia.
• “Debate” at the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru.
• “Debate” at the Teaching Development Center (Chile).
• “Debate as a tool for citizens” at the Center for the Implementation of Public Policies for Equity and Growth (Argentina).
• “What is debate and what are the rules for debating?” in Milenio (Mexico).
• “Characteristics of the debate” at Universidad de Las Américas Puebla (Mexico).