debate - chunhualiao/public-docs GitHub Wiki
- Should the US ban Chinese citizens from buying US lands due to national security concerns?
To quickly get up to speed on debate, here’s a structured plan:
Here are some mainstream definitions of "debate":
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Oxford English Dictionary:
- Debate: A formal discussion on a particular topic in a public meeting or legislative assembly, in which opposing arguments are put forward and which usually ends with a vote.
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Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
- Debate: A contention by words or arguments; a regulated discussion of a proposition between two matched sides.
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Cambridge Dictionary:
- Debate: (a) Serious discussion of a subject in which many people take part. (b) A formal discussion, especially in a parliament, in which people express different opinions about a subject.
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National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA):
- Debate: A competitive event where participants argue for or against a specific resolution or topic, judged based on argumentation, evidence, and presentation skills.
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UNESCO (Educational Definition):
- Debate: An educational activity that promotes critical thinking, public speaking, and reasoned argumentation, allowing participants to articulate and defend a position while engaging with opposing viewpoints.
- Formats of Debate: Learn common formats like Lincoln-Douglas, Policy Debate, and Public Forum. These formats often define time limits, roles, and structures.
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Roles in Debate:
- Proposition (affirmative) presents arguments supporting the resolution.
- Opposition (negative) refutes those arguments and presents counter-arguments.
- Judges evaluate based on criteria like logic, evidence, and delivery.
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Argumentation: Understand how to structure arguments using:
- Claim: Your assertion.
- Evidence: Supporting facts/data.
- Warrant: Explanation linking evidence to the claim.
- Rebuttals: Practice countering opposing arguments logically and concisely.
- Judging Criteria: Learn common judging metrics like impact, logic, and presentation.
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Books:
- The Debater’s Guide by Jon M. Ericson.
- They Say / I Say by Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein.
- Videos: Watch debate examples on platforms like YouTube. Look for debates from organizations like the National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA).
- Online Courses: Explore platforms like Coursera or Udemy for debate courses.
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Understand Debate in AI Terms:
- How AI models formulate arguments and structure debates.
- The role of logic and consistency in model-generated arguments.
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Study Debate Simulations:
- Review existing AI debate simulations like IBM’s Project Debater for insights.
Here's a table comparing the most common debate formats:
Aspect | Lincoln-Douglas (LD) | Policy Debate | Public Forum (PF) |
---|---|---|---|
Focus | Values and philosophy. | Policy-making and implementation feasibility. | Current events and public issues. |
Team Structure | 1 vs. 1 (one debater per side). | 2 vs. 2 (teams of two). | 2 vs. 2 (teams of two). |
Resolution | Value-based, focused on morality or ethical questions. | Policy-based, calling for a specific action or plan. | Fact or policy-based, tied to current, real-world topics. |
Round Length | 40–45 minutes. | 1.5–2 hours. | 35–50 minutes. |
Speaking Time | Longer speeches, less emphasis on cross-examination. | Long speeches with detailed cross-examinations. | Shorter speeches and more rapid exchanges. |
Cross-Examination | Limited, typically done by one debater. | In-depth, often includes technical questioning. | Often more conversational and accessible. |
Judging Criteria | Philosophical consistency, value justification, and logic. | Policy impacts, feasibility, and evidence-based argumentation. | Persuasion, clarity, and audience understanding. |
Preparation Required | High, often requiring familiarity with philosophical concepts. | Very high, includes technical evidence and detailed plans. | Moderate, with focus on timely and relevant research. |
Audience | Judges with a background in values/philosophy. | Experienced judges familiar with policy and technical debates. | General audiences or lay judges. |
Style | Formal and intellectual. | Technical and analytical. | Conversational and persuasive. |
Let me know if you'd like to refine this table for a specific purpose or audience!
Aspect | Fact Debate | Value Debate | Policy Debate |
---|---|---|---|
Objective | Determine the truth or accuracy of a statement. | Evaluate the worth or morality of an idea. | Advocate for or against a specific course of action. |
Focus | Verifiable evidence and factual data. | Ethical principles, societal norms, or priorities. | Practical solutions to address a specific problem. |
Key Questions | Is it true or false? What do the facts show? | Is it right or wrong? Which value is superior? | Is the plan necessary, feasible, and beneficial? |
Evidence | Empirical data, statistics, expert testimony. | Philosophical arguments, cultural examples, precedents. | Policy studies, cost-benefit analysis, real-world examples. |
Structure | - Define key terms. - Present evidence. - Disprove counter-evidence. | - Define key values. - Rank competing values. - Illustrate value alignment. | - Highlight the problem. - Propose a plan. - Prove feasibility and benefits. |
Argument Types | Logical and evidence-based reasoning. | Moral, ethical, or value-based reasoning. | Practical and solution-oriented reasoning. |
Approach to Refutation | Dispute accuracy or reliability of evidence. | Challenge value assumptions or priorities. | Question the practicality, cost, or risks of the plan. |
Appeals to Audience | Appeals to logic and objectivity (logos). | Appeals to values and ethics (ethos, pathos). | Appeals to practicality and benefits (logos, ethos). |
Examples | - “Global temperatures are rising due to human activity.” - “Crime rates are declining in urban areas.” | - “Democracy is the most just form of government.” - “Privacy is more important than security.” | - “The government should adopt universal healthcare.” - “We should implement renewable energy subsidies.” |
Evaluation Criteria | Reliability and relevance of evidence. | Consistency and persuasiveness of value hierarchy. | Effectiveness, feasibility, and cost-benefit ratio of the proposed policy. |
This table highlights the distinctions between the three types of debates and provides a clear guide on how to approach each one effectively.
Several state-of-the-art AI-based debate simulation systems have emerged recently, leveraging advanced language models to create engaging and educational debate experiences:
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Debate Club: This platform uses ChatGPT-4 to simulate one-on-one debates, presenting standalone arguments for each point. It randomly assigns users to argue for or against a given topic, promoting clear and direct exchanges of ideas[1].
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!! A.I. Debate !!: This specialized GPT variant simulates balanced debates between two characters, Artifice and Human, on various AI-related topics. It offers contrasting perspectives in a structured format, alternating viewpoints to provide comprehensive understanding of AI issues[3].
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AI Debate Synthesizer OPED: This system features five AI entities dynamically debating a given theme, leading to a proposal-based conclusion. It offers a game-like experience for exploring multiple perspectives on complex topics[3].
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House: This software program allows users to define different personas and assign AI models to them, enabling customized debate simulations with multiple perspectives on topics of interest[5].
Citations:
- [1] https://www.yeschat.ai/gpts-9t557fXcGzo-Debate-Club
- [2] https://arxiv.org/html/2501.04410
- [3] https://www.yeschat.ai/gpts-2OToc9BJIO--A-I-Debate-
- [4] https://www.anylogic.com/features/artificial-intelligence/
- [5] https://sausheong.com/creating-debate-simulations-with-ai-models-6ac94ae28e17
- [6] https://medium.com/@remoteupskill/artificial-intelligence-ai-art-refers-to-visual-artwork-produced-using-ai-programs-f586de4ea2c9
- [7] https://theresanaiforthat.com/s/debate+simulation/
- [8] https://www.ibm.com/think/topics/artificial-intelligence-types