Reasoning, Debate, and Public Speaking

AMONG OTHER THINGS, this article addresses the questions of many students on the reasons they have to take academic subjects like Logic, Debate, Critical Thinking, and Public Speaking.

Since these disciplines, especially when combined with each other, contribute a lot to possessing the quality called “correct reasoning,” it is important to know what this intellectual attitude can afford us.

Debate and Argumentation

Debate is a formally structured discussion of relevant issues or questions of public interest. To engage in a debate is to argue about a controversial or divisive topic, typically at length and in detail, as a kind of formal exchange of differing opinions and viewpoints.

Argumentation, as defined by the Encarta Dictionary, refers to “the process of debating or discussing something” (“Argumentation,” 2009). The dictionary indicates that argumentation and debate necessarily involve “logical reasoning” as the dictionary also defines the process of debating (argumentation) as “reasoning that proceeds methodically from a statement to a conclusion” (“Argumentation,” 2009).

Argumentation and debate fundamentally involve, but are more complex and broader than, factual argument (inspecting what is or isn’t the case) and rhetoric (persuasive speech). Though factual accuracy and some methods of speaking persuasively are important in argumentation, debate contest is won by employing many other clever strategies like offering better context or framework of the issue, effectively countering the opponents’ arguments, and instantly rebuilding one’s attacked case. Necessarily however, correct reasoning and logical consistency set out the practice debate and its basic principles.

Debate and Public Speaking

Public Speaking refers to the practice, process, and skill of making speeches to a big group of audience in a structured and purposeful manner. Basically the act of orally addressing large groups of people, Public Speaking is principally intended to inform, entertain, or more importantly, influence the audience.

Debate is very much related to Public Speaking. In fact, those who participate in debate contests necessarily do Public Speaking as they practically deliver speeches in front of audiences. Public Speaking, therefore, is a necessary part of debating.

Though some public speeches are aimed to simply transmit information or narrate an account or story, most of the time, Public Speaking is done to persuade the audience. In fact, good speakers are those who can change the emotions of their listeners and motivate them to act. Similarly, good debaters are those who can convince the judges and move audiences to action using correct reasoning and rational arguments.

Indeed, both Debate and Public speaking can be effective tools to employ for information dissemination, awareness promotion, public opinion formation, influence, conversion, motivation, persuasion, belief conception, and even propaganda.

In view of the aforementioned information, we can submit that Debate is a very good training exercise for Public Speaking, and that good public speakers have a great chance to fare well in debate competitions.

Reason, Reasoning, and Debate

We mentioned that debate is necessarily about reasoning as argumentation fundamentally involves logical and methodical reasoning. Basically a contest in reasoning or argumentation, debate is correctly using reason to present arguments, justifications, and proofs to defend a stand on an issue. But what is reasoning? What is reason?

Reason, as defined in Encarta Dictionary, refers to the “power of orderly thought: the power of being able to think in a logical and rational manner” (“Reason,” 2009). In Philosophy, it may refer to the “intellect” or the human faculty which provides the ability to think rationally and coherently. Associated with thinking and cognition, the concept of reason is sometimes referred to as rationality.

Basically, reasoning simply means “using reason.” Technically though, it refers to “logical thinking: the use of logical thinking in order to find results or draw conclusions” (“Reasoning,” 2009). The verbal expression of reasoning (a mental process) is called “argument,” hence reasoning is also called “argumentation.”

Reasoning is also one of the ways by which the mind infers or moves from one proposition to another. It also connotes forming judgment and thinking about cause and effect, truth and falsehood, and goodness or wickedness. Applicably, reasoning may also mean knowingly making sense of things or applying logic like in validating something, verifying information, justifying beliefs, or (more importantly in this context) defending a position in a debate issue. (© 2014 by Jensen DG. Mañebog/MyInfoBasket.com)

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