There's several arguments you can use in [competitive debate] and not all are moral. I am going to look in my notes from last semester but here's some:
- Arguments related to morality - In this case you need to define morality and appeal to the majority's presumed morality
- Arguments from cost/benefit - This is an argument from economics. For example, saying that even if the other side is right it's completely impossible to implement a measure or highly ineffective
- Argument from philosophy
- Argument from science + statistical studies - In this case, it's not about morality but facts. Not every debater knows equally all topics
I'm assuming this is the British parliament debate style, so there's the upper and lower house, two governments and two oppositions. If you are the first (to start the debate) you can define the motion strategically and it's important that you do that. For example, when I was asked to be pro-life I defined the motion as reaching out only women until 14 weeks pregnant.
- Arguments related to morality - In this case you need to define morality and appeal to the majority's presumed morality
- Arguments from cost/benefit - This is an argument from economics. For example, saying that even if the other side is right it's completely impossible to implement a measure or highly ineffective
- Argument from philosophy
- Argument from science + statistical studies - In this case, it's not about morality but facts. Not every debater knows equally all topics
I'm assuming this is the British parliament debate style, so there's the upper and lower house, two governments and two oppositions. If you are the first (to start the debate) you can define the motion strategically and it's important that you do that. For example, when I was asked to be pro-life I defined the motion as reaching out only women until 14 weeks pregnant.
Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you
