Debate and Argumentation: Debate as an Art and Science

DEBATE IS AN ARGUMENTATIVE CONTEST typically between two opposing sides on a definite proposition at a specified time. Argumentation, on the other hand, refers to “the process of debating or discussing something” (“Argumentation,” 2009).

James Milton O’Neil defines argumentation as “the art of influencing others through the medium of reasoned discourse, to believe or act as we wish them to believe or act” while Francis Donnelly explains that argumentation “presents to an audience by the spoken word adequate motives for a free action” (as cited Aquino & Deveza, 1995, p. 94). Hence, debate and argumentation involve an appeal to both the emotions or will (persuasion) and the intellect or reason (conviction).

Debate necessarily implies argumentation, and argumentation essentially involves Logic. In fact, the Encarta Dictionary defines argumentation as “reasoning that proceeds methodically [that is, logically] from a statement to a conclusion” (“Argumentation,” 2009). Note too that many of argumentation’s principles are definitely drawn from the basic principles of Logic.

Another way to look at the relationship between Logic and argumentation is to view one as a science and the other, an art. Remember that science teaches us how to know while art teaches us how to do. As regards correct reasoning, Logic is the science and argumentation is the corresponding art.

Debate as an art and science

Traditionally, debate is considered as an art of direct oral argumentation. It is an art for it demands artistic skills in performance, and it is concerned with principles aimed to develop creative abilities in the performance of that process. Debate can even be deemed as a composite art as many of its principles are drawn from the pertinent arts of rhetoric and oratory.

Debate is also a science as it is studied and performed methodically, that is, according to well-thought and developed procedures. As an applied science, many of its principles are derived from the fundamental sciences of Logic, law, and psychology.

Importance of Debate and Argumentation

Debate, either as an academic subject or co-curricular activity, is necessarily related to argumentation and reasoning. In studying debate, we learn effective reasoning which is very important for we do reasoning almost every time we communicate with others.

Basically, debate enhances the students’ intellectual abilities and social/communicative skills. The following are 10 other significance of debate and argumentation:

1. Debate provides us with the opportunity to think critically, improve our communication abilities, solve problems creatively, and increase our self-confidence as it affords training in rhetoric, persuasion, organized communication, and argument.

2. It engages people in writing (e.g. speeches), information analysis, and in-depth library and Internet research, thereby developing their academic research skills.

3. It enables people to express their views effectively and to respond cogently to arguments with which they disagree.

4. It encourages people (especially students) to take part in a truly scholar examination of the issues facing the society, thereby molding them to become well read and well informed about current issues.

5. It encourages us to value truth and the process of seeking truth.

6. It teaches people to accept responsibility to articulate a position using to the best of their ability the available evidence and the rules of reason, logic, and relevance.

7. It trains them to listen open-mindedly, recognizing always that new information may alter one’s position.

8. It teaches them to welcome evaluation and accept, and even encourage, disagreement and criticism.

9. It teaches them to refuse to reduce disagreement to personal attacks or attacks on groups or classes of individuals.

10. It teaches people to value civility, even in disagreement. (© 2014 by Jensen DG. Mañebog/MyInfoBasket.com)

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

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

INTERACTIVE ONLINE ACTIVITY

Go online to www.OurHappySchool.com. Through its search engine (upper right section), look for the online debate “Euthanasia: Moral or Immoral?” Click the ‘share’ button below the article. Using your Twitter account, accomplish sharing by writing your stand and reason concerning the issue. Ask at least four friends (not from your school) to leave a comment on your post. Print your post together with your friends’ comments. Submit the print out to your professor.

SUPPLEMENTARY ONLINE READING

Look for the lecture “On Definition: A Lecture in Logic” through the search engine (upper right section) of www.OurHappySchool.com. Among other things, the article teaches how to be precise in defining terms, avoid being misinterpreted, and be clear in our expositions.