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Some debates are done to formally decide on things or issues such as those concerning legislation, sanctioning of a resolution, approving an ordinance, passing a bill, or selecting a candidate for a position. The following are the common formats under this debate category:
Read moreCategorical syllogism, for one thing, provides us a conclusive yardstick in distinguishing correct from incorrect reasoning. For instance, a debater may submit an argument which virtually amounts to this: …
Read moreNo argument can be both invalid and valid. That is, if it is valid, then it cannot be invalid, and conversely. A categorical syllogism is valid if it conforms to the four fundamental syllogistic rules discussed in passing below. Meaning to say, if an argument violates at least one of these rules, it is invalid. On the other hand, if none of the rules is broken, the syllogism is valid.
Read moreA SYLLOGISM is typically a three-proposition deductive argument—that is, a mediate inference that consists of two premises and a conclusion. Among the various forms of syllogism, the so-called categorical syllogism is perhaps the most popular as it serves as the heart of the Traditional Aristotelian Logic.
Read moreJames 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).
Read moreDebate proposition refers to the precisely formulated statement that embodies the contention which a debater asserts or denies. It is pretty much like a clearly stated proposal or resolution put forward for consideration or discussion. There are two (2) basic types of proposition: the proposition of policy and the proposition of fact.
Read moreErrors in reasoning, these logical fallacies occur frequently enough, either alone or in combination, to deserve special attention. Fallacy is false reasoning, a bad method of argument, whether deductive or inductive.
Read moreStudying Toulmin model of argument can help us in many ways, especially in debates. For one thing, it enables us to identify the unstated assumptions in one’s arguments. Being able to discern the unspoken warrant could help us evaluate arguments and refute them if needed. Furthermore, Toulmin’s model can help us to analyze and improve our own arguments, and anticipate opposing arguments, especially if we are preparing for a debate, discussion, or forum.
Read moreThe ten (10) basic rules of inference discussed here are also the common argument forms we use everyday. Even the seemingly complicated inferences like the constructive dilemma and destructive dilemma are functional as we use them, knowingly or otherwise, especially as we engage in discussions, establishing our points, and debates.
Read moreDeduction and induction are both used in everyday conversations and even in scientific reasoning. Bringing together these two forms of reasoning are effective in establishing general laws, drawing conclusions about a population, predicting the occurrence of a future event based observations of similar past events, and drawing conclusions about causes of an illness based on observations of symptoms. Thus, utilizing both of them in a debate is advisable and even ingenious.
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