Debating isn't about being right
What is the true goal of debate?
A real debate is about showing a respect for the other participants and a respect for the evidence more than about being right. People who debate trying to be right do not get the ultimate reward which is knowledge gained. If we believe in science and in knowledge then we understand most of the time we won't be right. It might be the case that we have to be wrong many many times in order to learn what is right.
Michael Jordan said it best, in order to win you have to fail. Michael Jordan missed over 9000 shots in his career and lost over 300 games. It's part of the process of discovering what is and what isn't, what works and what doesn't.
All too often people debate not with the intent to learn or to explore the evidence but merely to prove their opinion right. This kind of "debate" is toxic and gets no where. Ego comes into it and each side simply wants to one up the other and then what happens to knowledge?
If it is a scientific debate then each side should be supported by scientific literature. Exploring the scientific literature is a means of exploring the evidence. Results from experiments for instance can tell a lot and we can debate these results. But if it's not a scientific debate? If it's religious? If it's political? Then in my opinion most of the time it gets us no where.
I think the important thing in a discussion is to listen to arguments and then try to come up with a better one..if you cant you should change your viewpoint.
A debate is a perfect format for learning something. By engaging with someone with different views than oneself you get to learn so much more than you would otherwise never learn.
Such an important distinction! Especially today, in our age of anonymous posting on the internet, it's more important to than ever to respect debate and the evidence and realize we always have something to learn
I see a lot of hot heads even in the scientific realm. Look at the ostrisization of Rupert Sheldrake. And conversely, a religious debate can be very fruitful, as long as certain rules of logic, order and a mutual desire to reach a deeper understanding are upheld. Politics....well, okay a fruitful debate there may only be possible in theory ;p
Philosophy is queen, and she has many handmaidens.
You make good points about the goals of respect being important. I love figuring out that I am wrong because it allows me to continue to learn and reach ever more nuanced understandings.
Thanks for always having thought provoking articles Dana!
Well it is a part of our way of letting our self grow but unfortunately this days most of us just think about winning rather learning.As this will be the ultimate gain that anyone can get !
We do should focus on letting our self grow rather than showing someone else down !
Well-stated.
Now only if politicians could grok this... lol
Nice one
Well you are right...most of the times debates are mostly ego driven and then the debate heads into a completely different direction :)
I coach a high school debate team the first and most important rule
i teach my kids is we attack ideas not people!
We are a policy debate team, so the debaters end up arguing both sides of the issue, this helps deepen their knowledge!
I think this is something many fail to understand. I personally enjoy religious discussion. However, during my attempts most of the time it leads to one being forceful about their beliefs.
Well...
I also enjoy political discussion but I admit it's hard to reason with someone who has extreme views.
Not to mention, being able to admit that we're lack of certain knowledge and possibly wrong, are courageous act which many fail to practice.