Examples of Interesting Debate Topics: Classic and Recent Issues

Some of these debate topics are classic or timelessly divisive issues while others are recent subject matters. Arguments for and against the issues and other pertinent information serving as background, primer, or teaser for the topics are also provided to help the debate professors, students in debate classes, or debate organizers.

The accounts mentioned for the various issues—which students may adopt in constructing various speeches—are not necessarily the personal beliefs of the author.

Euthanasia

Encarta Dictionarydefines ‘euthanasia’ as the “painless killing to relieve suffering: the act or practice of killing somebody who has an incurable illness or injury, or of assisting that person to die (“Euthanasia,” 2009). Though some nations allow euthanasia, most countries consider the practice illegal.

Ideally, most people would want to live to a ripe old age, and then die painlessly in their sleep. Practically though, this is not what most people experience. We see many people struggle with painful diseases before eventually dying. There are those who find their body weakens to such a degree that they wish they were dead, hence literally wanting to end their suffering by committing suicide. But despite wishing to end their life, some are physically incapable of doing so, and as such are in need of the assistance of others. This is one of the cases which bring about the debate on euthanasia … continue reading
Read: Euthanasia Debate: Reasons for and against Mercy Killing

Mandatory Drug Testing in Schools

In the Philippines alone, official records objectively show the worsening cases of drug abuse especially among the youth. Statistics proves that in 1972, there were only 20,000 drug users in the country. In 2004 however, the figure has climbed up to an astounding 6.7 million. Today, the figure is way way bigger.

The 2004 report states that the so-called “shabu” (methamphetamine hydrochloride) and marijuana are the illegal drugs preferred by one in every 29 Filipinos aged 10 to 44 years, records indicate. Interestingly, 325,000 children were into illegal substance use, taking particularly rugby, according to the Dangerous Drugs Board … continue reading
Read: Arguments for and against Mandatory Drug Testing for Students

Same Sex Marriage

Marriage has been basically and traditionally defined as a religious and legal commitment between a man and a woman, and romantically portrayed as the ultimate expression of love.

A pertinent controversial issue, called same-sex marriage, has been producing hot discussions as various nations and states grapple with how to legally respond to the issue. Also referred to as gay marriage, same-sex marriage is a proposed marital union between two persons of the same sex … continue reading
Read: Same Sex Marriage Debate: Reasons For and Against

Also Check Out: From Socrates to Mill: An Analysis of Prominent Ethical Theories, also by author Jensen DG. Mañebog

Curfew for Minors

‘Curfew’ refers to a law enacted either by a local or national government that restricts the citizens or a certain portion of the community from being in public places at specific times of the day, especially at night.

Some cities and municipalities implement a curfew to prevent teenagers from being out at certain times, typically during the late hours of the night or school hours during the day. Any teenager caught out during curfew can face a fine or even jail time, depending on the laws of the implementing government body … continue reading

Read: Curfew Debate: Arguments For and Against Curfew

Human Intelligence

Intelligence refers to the ability to think and learn. Human intelligence stands for the capacity of human rational mind to consolidate, evaluate, and make use of external stimuli by integrating sensory input with memory and programming. It is thus the faculty to know and learn data or information and skills and to apply them especially to worthwhile matters.

For long, there has been a debate on whether our intelligence is inherited by nature or acquired through nurture. The debate on this controversial issue involves studies in Psychology, Sociology, and other fields of Science.

The scientist Sir Francis Galton, more than a century ago, studied the role of genes in intelligence and theorized that parents transfer intelligence to their children, who in turn pass these intelligent-boosting genes down to their respective offspring. Many references nowadays claim that our brain structure is considerable under genetic influence.

This theory was corroborated by the study done in 1979 by a professor of University of Minnesota Thomas Bouchard. He did IQ testing on twins separated from their biological parents and on adopted children. He concluded that intelligence is being passed genetically and the correlation between the intelligence of the adopted children and their foster parents is zero percent. Daniels, Devlin and Roeder (1997) and Matt Ridley conducted several studies and ended up claiming that heritability can account for 48% of the variation in IQ (as cited in “Human Intelligence,” 2011).

However, many psychologists and sociologists believe that intelligence is considerably affected by the environment. For instance, Herrnstein and Murray (1994) in their famous Bell Curve Experiment found out that people from different parts of the world have different IQ due to their difference in their environment (as cited in “Human Intelligence,” 2011).

The two psychologists also concluded that intelligence is being affected by people’s socio-economic status. Accordingly, education significantly affects one’s intellectual capacity—that a person who goes to school has a higher IQ compared to someone who does not. Furthermore, the theory holds that intelligence is also affected by the person’s occupation—that those persons whose jobs require exerting less skill possess a relatively poorer IQ.

Also Check Out:
Reasoning and Debate: A Handbook and a Textbook by Jensen DG. Mañebog

Fraternities and Sororities

Fraternity refers to a social group or society for men who are students at a college or university. Its counterpart is sorority which is a society for women college students. The names of fraternities and sororities typically consist of individually pronounced Greek letters.

Some explain that people join these societies for virtually the same reasons. Gang membership is oftentimes linked to the five (5) basic needs that Abraham Maslow theorized: the physiological needs, the needs for safety, the need for love/belongingness, the need for self-esteem, and the need to feel that someone has the potential to reach specific goals (self-actualization).

Fraternities and sororities are said to be not that different from gangs—members all want the feeling of being able to identify with a group, security, and finding solidarity through group membership.

In exchange of their pledge of solidarity, members receive protection and aids from the group, which are assumed to allow them an opportunity to perform in a higher level and reach their full potential (self-actualization) … continue reading

Read: Reasons to Join and Not to Join Fraternity and Sorority

Physical Punishment for Criminals

Inflicting physical punishments for criminals has been a practice, openly or in secret, since the ancient times. This involves the deliberate infliction of pain as retribution for an offense or for disciplining the wrongdoer.

One traditional method is by using a whip or birch to hit the buttocks, back of the thighs and calves, upper back and shoulders, soles of the feet, the hands, and even the head of the criminal. The degree of punishment such as the number of whip usually depends on the severity of the offense or crime committed … continue reading

Read: Pros and Cons of Corporal/Physical Punishment

The Effects of Science

Science is “the study of the physical and natural world and phenomena, especially by using systematic observation and experiment” (“Science,” 2009). Technology is considered to be made possible by science as it (technology) basically refers to the application of the theories and methods of science.

Especially in this day and age, we witness how science and technology seemingly rise above the limits of human understanding and expand our knowledge of the things that were once unknown, making things easier, faster, lighter, and better. The contemporary modes of communication have made contact possible and easy among people who may be thousand of miles apart from each other. Scientific studies about human body have provided huge developments for medicine and surgery; diseases that were once incurable are now easily cured, and even changing parts of our body has become probable.

Through science, the raw energies gathered from the earth and its surface are now used to make machines function. Present-day transportation has made the world closer, and various places have become nearer, accessible, and reachable. Innovative engines and apparatus provide us comfort and conveniently transport us to our destination, not to mention the high-tech entertainment we get while we are on our way. The mechanization of agriculture and industry has made the production of foods and other things easier, faster, and more efficient.

Also Check Out: Why I Am Not an Evolutionist 

Nevertheless, we should not forget as well science’s other striking inventions like the extremely terrifying weapons of mass destruction—the Atomic, Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear weapons. These fearsome bombs and weapons which are (for now) still waiting to be used could one day just easily destroy everything and anything in the biosphere, including us. Yes, science may have had shown capabilities of healing us and creating magnificent things, but equally evident is its capacity for mass destruction and annihilation. Hence, many ask the question, “For now we are safe with science, but for how long?” … continue reading

Related: Debate and Argumentation: 10 Importance

ALSO CHECK OUT:
Reasoning and Debate: A Handbook and a Textbook by Jensen DG. Mañebog