Why are you interested in debating?

[Cureus]

Im at risk of seeming like a simpleton but I ask anyway: Why are you interested in debating? Ive never seen a website with so many opportunities for debate. The nature of debate is disagreement and not necessarily to resolve it. So why do you go looking for debate?

 

[LuisDantas]

It is just how I flow. I can hardly accept the existence of disagreement without trying to find out its nature and boundaries. It eases my mind a lot to be aware of those parameters.

 

[FunctionalAtheist]

I don't think it's a simpleton type question at all. While the nature of debate may not be to change the mind of your opponent, I don't think the nature is disagreement either. The purpose of debate is to provide both perspectives in as detailed and complex a manner as possible, so that observers (not participants) can evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of both perspectives.

Also I do not believe that most of what is said on the debate forms is really debate.

 

[Cureus]

I agree with you both. I was partly wrong to write the nature of debate is disagreement. However the nature of debate on just about any website is disagreement, especially without the proactive element of an observing panel to evaluate a winner. Yes LuisDantas and the staff here seem to do a great job, but they arent obliged to oversee a debate winner and thats the right thing also. Yet the debate goes on.

Is debate a more attractive term than discussion? I dont think so, I wouldnt have thought it for a religious place, yet its all the debate forums which are popular.

 

[LegionOnomaMoi]

Why are you interested in debating?

1) I require other minds to bounce ideas off of and to criticize my own.
2) I am frequently bored and challenges posed by others' minds are a "cure".
3) I am deeply concerned with truth and intellectual integrity & honesty. I despise the spreading of disinformation and more so the methods by which conclusions are reached from some set of propositions to a conclusion that doesn't follow from them.

 

[oldbadger]

Im at risk of seeming like a simpleton but I ask anyway: Why are you interested in debating? Ive never seen a website with so many opportunities for debate. The nature of debate is disagreement and not necessarily to resolve it. So why do you go looking for debate?

I learn more, faster, more memorably.....in the heat of debate.

 

[Cureus]

1) I require other minds to bounce ideas off of and to criticize my own.
2) I am frequently bored and challenges posed by others' minds are a "cure".
3) I am deeply concerned with truth and intellectual integrity & honesty. I despise the spreading of disinformation and more so the methods by which conclusions are reached from some set of propositions to a conclusion that doesn't follow from them.

1) Doesnt require debate
2) Doesnt require debate
3) Philosophical principles can be applied everywhere, not just in debates.

Go forth and find other forums on this website

I learn more, faster, more memorably.....in the heat of debate.

Thank you for your input oldbadger.

 

[Iti oj]

It's fun.

 

[Alceste]

Why not? I find it very enjoyable, especially when others in the conversation debate honestly by providing evidence their premises are true, staying on topic, avoiding logical fallacies and using coherent reasoning.

I've learned new things and grown as a person because of the few people here who do that. An idea or factual claim needs to be rock solid before I integrate it into my world view. Looking for flaws is simply what I do, even with my own ideas, since I don't want to live with a mind full of BS.

 

[RichardParker]

Im at risk of seeming like a simpleton but I ask anyway: Why are you interested in debating? Ive never seen a website with so many opportunities for debate. The nature of debate is disagreement and not necessarily to resolve it. So why do you go looking for debate?

Why?
Well... sometimes, because it's fun.
Sometimes because I think somebody holds a bad believe and I hope that I can point it out.
Sometimes because somebody holds a position that I'm not really sure I understand, and I think it might be helpfull to understand.
Sometimes because I think that my oponent holds a very bad position, and even though I might not be able to convince him, I might be able to show other people where the flaws are.
But in generally I just consider it a good excersise to get a better understanding of my own position. This is actually something debates have helped me a lot. Because unless your position gets challanged and you have to defend it, it's very hard to realize if a position of yours is held for bad reasons.

 

[George-ananda]

Im at risk of seeming like a simpleton but I ask anyway: Why are you interested in debating? Ive never seen a website with so many opportunities for debate. The nature of debate is disagreement and not necessarily to resolve it. So why do you go looking for debate?

To support those who generally agree with me and have doubts. And to plant seeds in those who disagree with me.

Basically, to help people and to sharpen my thinking and writing skills and to expose myself to the arguments out there.

 

[fantome profane]

1) Doesnt require debate
2) Doesnt require debate
3) Philosophical principles can be applied everywhere, not just in debates.

Go forth and find other forums on this website

I wonder if you appreciate the irony of this. Here you are engaging in a debate, about whether or not people should engage in debate.

I just love irony.

 

[Cureus]

Why not? I find it very enjoyable, especially when others in the conversation debate honestly by providing evidence their premises are true, staying on topic, avoiding logical fallacies and using coherent reasoning.

I've learned new things and grown as a person because of the few people here who do that. An idea or factual claim needs to be rock solid before I integrate it into my world view. Looking for flaws is simply what I do, even with my own ideas, since I don't want to live with a mind full of BS.

Debate, argument, and disagreement by the semantics of the words are not pleasant. Life is meant to be beautiful. My point is that there are many more ways to have the same discussions, only without the premise of a debate, and there are many non-debate forums here to write upon.

For example, prior to coming on this debate forum I hadnt read about BS nor beggars. I appreciate bs and beggars are part of life, but I propose that its the atmosphere of debate that bring these nasties out.

Why?
Well... sometimes, because it's fun.
Sometimes because I think somebody holds a bad believe and I hope that I can point it out.
Sometimes because somebody holds a position that I'm not really sure I understand, and I think it might be helpfull to understand.
Sometimes because I think that my oponent holds a very bad position, and even though I might not be able to convince him, I might be able to show other people where the flaws are.
But in generally I just consider it a good excersise to get a better understanding of my own position. This is actually something debates have helped me a lot. Because unless your position gets challanged and you have to defend it, it's very hard to realize if a position of yours is held for bad reasons.

Richard akin to LegionOnomaMoi, the atmosphere of debate is not required for any of your wishes. There are many more non-debate forums to explore.

To support those who generally agree with me and have doubts. And to plant seeds in those who disagree with me.

Basically, to help people and to sharpen my thinking and writing skills and to expose myself to the arguments out there.

George-ananda let me tell you your statement is concise and to the point. Will you be more specific about the kind of seeds youre thinking of planting? As far as Im concerned nobody disagrees with me, so you can see my curiosity.

I wonder if you appreciate the irony of this. Here you are engaging in a debate, about whether or not people should engage in debate.

I just love irony.

Absolutely. Hopefully people will want to look at other types of forum on this website.

 

[Alceste]

Cureus, I don't cling to beauty. When we cling to beauty, ugliness clings to us. One cannot exist without the other. If you don't want to be troubled by the ugliness in the world, let go of your attachment to beauty.

Free Taoist advice.

 

[Iti oj]

I wonder if you appreciate the irony of this. Here you are engaging in a debate, about whether or not people should engage in debate.

I just love irony.

: hamster ::eat::redcard:

 

[Draka]

Entertainment factor baby.

 

[George-ananda]

George-ananda let me tell you your statement is concise and to the point. Will you be more specific about the kind of seeds youre thinking of planting?

The idea that there might be more to reality than this physical realm, for example.

As far as Im concerned nobody disagrees with me, so you can see my curiosity.

I don't understand what you meant by this sentence. Cureus, I'm curious.

 

[Riverwolf]

Im at risk of seeming like a simpleton but I ask anyway: Why are you interested in debating? Ive never seen a website with so many opportunities for debate. The nature of debate is disagreement and not necessarily to resolve it. So why do you go looking for debate?

I'm looking to learn, and to check what I know.

It gives me practice for critical thinking, and not getting so attached to my argument that I cling to it passionately no matter how much it's proven wrong.

 

[outhouse]

Why are you interested in debating?

Education and spreading knowledge should be welcomed.



Fighting fanaticism and fundamentalism should be everyone's goal in life.

 

[Ouroboros]

Im at risk of seeming like a simpleton but I ask anyway: Why are you interested in debating? Ive never seen a website with so many opportunities for debate. The nature of debate is disagreement and not necessarily to resolve it. So why do you go looking for debate?

"Gnothi seauton" - Know thyself.

I find debate, with reasonable people, to be a study in my own views. By looking at other people's views and comparing them through debate, I learn more about my own.