Ethics Debate Topics — page 14

1,286 debate topics, all ages. Debatable motions with arguments for and against. Open the arguments below, pick one at random, or present them full-screen.

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651.
Waterboarding is torture and is morally wrong
For
This debate is in danger of becoming bogged in by semantics if my opponent and I continue to debate the interpretation of morality. Basically I have suggested that morality is a knowledge of right and wrong and that immoral actions are those which go against widely held opinion…
Hello again. My opponent seems to have manoeuvred this debate away from a discussion of the rights and wrongs of water boarding (which he does not refer to once in round 2) and seems determined to defend his peculiar (if not "bizarre") idea of morality. This would appear to…
Against
"This debate is in danger of becoming bogged in by semantics if my opponent and I continue to debate the interpretation of morality." Semantics doesn't "Bog" a debate. It's the only thing that gives a debate any-- well, frankly, meaning. :P To evade semantics is to evade the…
" My opponent seems to have manoeuvred this debate away from a discussion of the rights and wrongs of water boarding (which he does not refer to once in round 2) and seems determined to defend his peculiar (if not "bizarre") idea of morality." It's not steering the debate away…
652.
Euthanasia should be legalized
For
Strict regulations must be implemented and monitored closely. The government should work hand in hand with the insurance companies to establish proper regulations to avoid an influx of malpractice lawsuits, and large increases in medical insurance. Euthanasia is a valuable,…
One solution to resolve the abuse of this method would be death panels. The idea of a death panel is that a group of physicians meet with a terminally ill patient who is seeking assisted suicide as a means to end their life. The panel looks at the patients medical records and…
Against
Euthanasia is a pointless, and inhumane practice in medicine. It offers few benefits that modern medicine doesn't already provide. Though suffering and seeing someone in pain may be far from a joyful experience they are both important for the development of our character, and…
Death Panels are far from an ideal solution to insure abuse of the choice of assisted suicide does not occur. For example many of the physicians on the board or panel may be employed by the hospital which the patient is admitted to and may approve assisted suicide because it…
653.
Abortion is morally justified
For
He mixes up the words "life" and "person" so much that it seems he does not know the philosophical definition of a person. Until he can even approach cleaning up his mess (and then refuting my arguments), the vote goes to PRO. >>>life was the category of this debate round the…
>>>Life Begins at conception, when the fetus is killed, its life is over. <<< Who ever said life was the category we are basing this debate on? We kill many things that are alive, like plants. Would someone who picks a flower out from the ground, sniffs it, then throws it away…
Against
mr skeptic i am sorry you are unsatisfied with this debate. i think you are a very good opponent despite the disagreement we have in this debate. with that said i will jump into then. first you say "I never used life as a measurement for justification in this debate. I used…
first you say "Who ever said life was the category we are basing this debate on? We kill many things that are alive, like plants. Would someone who picks a flower out from the ground, sniffs it, then throws it away be charged with murder? " life was the category of this debate…
654.
Moral relativism cannot excuse child suicide bombing
For
As stated in the last three rounds, you cannot excuse the usage of child suicide bombers in the actions of the Taliban by moral relativism. Let"s recap what has been said. Immorality is being shown by the Taliban. Though different societies do different things, it is…
As stated in previous arguments, the usage of suicide bombers as part of the Taliban"s attacks cannot be excused by moral relativism. The children did not have a choice once the bomb was strapped to them. I might be missing something here, but what are they"re two choices? Die…
Against
Ryan Molenaar I feel as though we are talking in circles as not much new information has been introduced from your initial argument to your last. Yes based on what you believe, and what most others believe, what the Taliban are doing is immoral. However, in the end there is no…
Ryan Molenaar The real question here that needs to be addressed is "What harm can come from the situation that is being argued?" The children being used as suicide bombers obviously are the ones most harmed here, and if any other moral standard were being used in this argument…
655.
Giving birth to an orphan is preferable to abortion
For
My opponent had a lot of trouble staying on topic in this debate. Further, she argued that she had not conceded my points without showing which arguments she had used or presenting any new arguments against the points she had already conceded. So, she has conceded them for…
First, I will point out the points that my opponent has conceded: 1. An orphan can be adopted into a loving family. 2. Orphans and adopted children can live productive lives. 3. It is unethical to choose to end the life of another. 4. It is better to live as an orphan than to…
Against
My opponent has not debated me. He simply restated his arguments over and over again, and ignored mine saying that I never made them, and I instead conceded to them by not responding or making an indirect argument against them, while I did many times. He never once rebutted my…
Firstly, my opponents source (http://www.geocities.com...) doesn't prove anything. Those 'rules' were not stated in the first argument and are not published on the debate website. Therefore I didn't technically concede to any of the points. "It is unethical to choose to end the…
656.
Dog fighting should be legal
For
Dogs fight all the time in the wild. 65% of the american population watches mma.which is people getting paid to fight.aside from the point, its the way champions where bread in the pass yet if you knew anything about the subject you'd know that dogs choose to fight they could…
Dog fighting should be aloud. dogs fight in the wild all the time. why shouldn't people be able to enjoy that.
Against
Thank you for the debate. 1. "Dogs fight in the wild."- They fight in the wild to survive. Domesticated animals do not need to fight for "fun". Dog fights are held until one 'submits', which is usually death. 2. MMA has no relation to why dog fighting should be allowed. 3.…
Thank you for the debate. According to animal laws, there should be a humane treatment of animals, and that is why dog fighting should not be allowed. As a sophisticated society, we Americans do not force other creatures to harm themselves for profit entertainment. We kill them…
657.
Abortion should be banned in the United States
For
We seem to be going in circles here. I hope we can break that trend in this, our last round. It is not okay to kill someone for ANY of the following reasons: 1. They are unwanted. 2. Their future is bleak. 3. Their existence will inconvenience another. I was hoping we would get…
Again, my opponent argues that because of a possibly dim future, it would be acceptable to kill the child. This argument could be used for many things equally preposterous: Suicide rates are high for dentists, and people living in Seattle. Should we kill them? Suicide rates are…
Against
So if a girl was raped you would say keep the child even though it will be a constant reminder of something horrible in her life, Abortions can lead to a decrease in adoption centers, mental disorders, over population, economic ways, abuse, homelessness and much more
Im saying if the mother is not read to take care of the child she should not have the child, and a poor childhood can lead to a lot of disorders
658.
Torture is necessary in some situations
For
First of all, my opponent hasn't explained why torture wouldn't be necessary in any of those four situations. Since the resolution reads that 'torture is necessary in some situations' and those four situations are 'some situations' where torture is necessary.Secondly, the…
My argument will essentially revolve around 4 key situations that are somewhat made up by myself and somewhat based on something I either saw in a fictional series/movie or from a real-life situation that I am dramatising for effect.Target in Scenario #1: The CopTarget in…
Against
I have been informed that the account of my opponent has received administrative action and will not be able to complete the debate but before the rest of the rounds go to Forfeit I would like to point out once more, the Real world cannot exist in hyperbole hypothetical. We as…
This work you've put into this, the writing is really very colorful and well written. Have you ever considered writing a novel? Seriously ( not Ad-hominiem) these are written, they could be a suspense thriller novels. But despite their detail and colorful writing style, they…
659.
Pregnant women should not always have the right to an abortion
For
duly noted. on a side point, given con has the highest ELO on this site, i'm honored that con has chosen to debate this. and extremely curious as to what will be argued. (especially given the caliber of past con arguments)
at least later in the pregnancy... sometiems infant's rights should be prioritized. a mother assumed the risk of pregnancy, and then, she assumed the risk of carrying the child for many months. to be clear, i'm focusing on later in pregnancy. but there and earlier, an argument…
Against
I accept
R1) LifeThis was not addressed at all. My adversary fails to show that the bad is not just a human but alive. She states that the baby inside the womb is no different than the baby outside of the womb. This if falseThe baby gains different characteristics week by week and even…
660.
A just society ought to ban abortion
For
Thanks again, TBR. There is one thing, and one thing only that really matters in this debate: Is the fetus a human? According to scientific http://www.abort73.com... "Faye Wattleton, the longest reigning president of the largest abortion provider in the United States"Planned…
Thanks, Con. Introduction Refutations http://www.christiananswers.net... http://www.prolifeinfo.ie... TBR's main argument goes as such P1: The government should not try to impose morality onto people but should instead let them decide P2: Banning abortion imposes morality onto…
Against
Thank you for posting I look forward to it. I accept
ConclusionWhile I don't entirely mind pro attempting to answer my arguments with their own perspective, just rewriting my points for pros own convenience is disingenuous.Pro states my argument is this;P1: The government should not try to impose morality onto people but should…
661.
Abortion should be illegal because it ends a human life
For
No matter how you try to deny it or justify it, abortion is murder and slaughter of innocents. How cold can you be to fool yourself into believing that terminating a pregnancy is not killing a baby? To the young female considering abortion...be a mother, not a murderer. To the…
aborting is slaughter of the innocent and murder.....you have to make a lot of denials to excuse abortion. You have to deny that the unborn baby is a baby. You have to deny it of it's life. You have to deny that the mother is carrying a baby. You have to deny that the mother is…
Against
Since my opponent is keen on using appeals to emotion and consequences, I would like him to consider this: is it really the best idea to bring a child in a world where his parents did not want to have him and may not even be willing to love him? How about being born in a family…
I do not deny that the mother is carrying a human being, but I deny that it (the foetus) is a PERSON in the sense that it is yet unable to think and is not yet conscious. A foetus is alive in the same sense that a cancer is alive (I'm not pushing the comparison further), the…
662.
Society's acceptance of homosexuality is a slippery slope
For
I'll let you go first. However, before we begin I'd like to say what I think was responsible for the emergence of the GLBT movement. It had to do mostly with the sexual liberation movement of the 1960s and 1970s, but it also had to do with Loving v. Virginia, which caused…
You want to play? All right, I'll play. First of all, I thank my opponent for finally laying down in plain language what questions he expects me to answer. You said a whole bunch of other stuff, but I'm going to skip down to your 14 questions. Q1. In what way do you perceive…
Against
Since this is the final round, I'll offer a conclusion as to why my opponent has failed to uphold the resolution properly.Conclusion If we take a look at the resolution independently of the argument made in this debate, we should understand that ultimately the point of this…
I am going to completely throw out the previous structure of the debate, as it has just become repetitive and we haven't gone anywhere with it. Concerning logical fallacies coming into play with the slippery slope, it is important to remember this entire debate is based around…
663.
Torture can be morally acceptable in some cases
For
One cannot assume that the victim provoked the argument to plan the fight. Self-defense is a justifiable form of torture because if someone brings deadly force to you, you must protect yourself to survive. Let"s say someone is holding an innocent individual gunpoint. If that…
Although rape is not justifiable, there are other cases in which torture is permissible. All acts of torture are not justifiable, however some are for explicit reasoning. For example, self-defense is a justifiable form of torture because without defending yourself your life may…
Against
Yes, it is in a persons instinct to protect themselves. It does not however justify using deadly force or torture that does not even sound correct. Self-defense is extreme and or intentional harm inflicted on another person when you feel as though you are in harms way. You said…
No acts of torture are justified. The claim off self-defense is allowed in courts simply for someone to try to avoid a guilty plea. It is very probable that the "victim" provoked the altercation with a plan to use deadly force against the "aggressor". Torture is still torture…
664.
Killing one beloved person to save many criminals is justified
For
Extend
Extend
Against
Hi , thanks for accepting :) Just thought the voters should know playing devils advocate. ;)"Kill a beloved, to save many criminals"My breif arugment.1. We ought to act in such a way to minimize the greatest amount of suffering.2. Love is perhaps the quintessence of the human…
I accept.
665.
Abortion should be legal in all cases, including late-term
For
Let me begin by saying there are two controversial cases that were established until now that determine whether abortion should be accepted in certain cases or not. The first one is when it comes to the mother's health, while the second one is related to the complicated issue…
Also, I would like to precise that when I say "every" case, I imply every voluntary case, of course. A woman should not be forced to have an abortion, and I hope both the reader and my opponent understood that. First of all, I would like to point out that abortion is not always…
Against
Why? The primary reason that you should vote con is because Pro has not even came close to fulfilling his BoP. His argument revolves around the rape case and the instance in which the mother's life is at risk. However as I have proven this is not proving the resolution even…
Let me first clarify that the debate is NOT about whether abortion should be accepted in certain circumstances. The resolution proposed that abortion must be legal in ALL cases. Pro has not even came close to fulfilling his BOP or even proving the resolution generally true. I…
666.
Doctors performing illegal abortions for trivial reasons are essentially serial murderers
For
http://www.operationrescue.org...that is an example of the abortion to go to a rock concert. if the it is illegal to do hte abortion the baby must have rights, which means its a person. you might not like calling it a person, but it is.if the abortion is illegal it must be…
"what reasons would be trivial. Is it viable to "ruin" ones possibly more lives when it can be prevented. I don't believe it is appropriate for judgment to be placed on the individuals nor the doctors based on choices they are making which will affect the rest of your life."the…
Against
If it is approved, then it isn't illegal though. There wouldn't be procedures in place without a reason to do so. About brain activity, perhaps, it depends on how late in the pregnancy it would be. It is not as if they don't go in front of a medical review board to see if an…
1) Doctors still have to follow the law, where I am from, abortions are legal up to a certain week, depends on the state. I think the situation you provided is unreasonable and I'd like proper evidence of it happening for trivial reasons. I presume this situation is…
667.
People should not be prevented from ending their own lives
For
I am not speaking on this from a moralistic standpoint. You are not correct, when saying that the goal is not reproduction. Scientifically, it is. Yes, individuals have goals that they set up for themselves. I never said that they don't. But, scientifically, and factually, the…
From a scientific standpoint, the main reason we should not try and stop people from committing suicide, is because mental illnesses are often hereditary. The ultimate goal for all animals, (humans included) is reproduction. So, if a human with mental illness succeeds as a…
Against
My opponent fails to realize that suicide is not the answer to mental illness, or will never be the best answer. My opponent fails to realize that living and finding a solution other than suicide is the better choice. As I have said (I don't think my opponent has rebutted…
Hello. I will be against the act suicide, and will be arguing that it should be prevented. While suicide can't always be prevented. Depression can. A lot of mental illnesses can be treated in lots of ways. Therapy, Lobotomy, medications, and feeling loved. The ultimate goal for…
668.
Involuntary euthanasia should be prohibited under most conditions
For
Involuntary euthanasia (also known as assisted suicide) was first introduced back in 1891 were a man named Felix Adler decided to use this initiative call for the acceptance of harmful drug to terminally ill patients who requested to die. It was later on released in the States…
Against
Hopefully my opponent will not forfeit the next round.
I will tell you this, I am sure that Euthanasia is a thing that will be asked for, not only by the patient. I am sure that I have not heard of anyone dying from Involuntary Euthanasia. I am sure also that if that were to happen, there is nothing you can prove to show that the…
669.
Abortion should be legalized
For
My opponent closed his account. Tis sad.
Before I begin my arguments, I'd like to apologize for my delayed response. I'd also like to note that I've opted to devote this round to only arguments and not rebuttals, in favor of incorporating some questions I'd like to address in my rebuttals that I'd like my opponent to…
Against
Oh, so sorry that I had to forfeit the previous two rounds...but that was mainly due to my ongoing examinations. I'll not post an argument this time around because that would give me an unfair advantage. Therefore, I request you to judge us on the basis of our opening…
Thank you, one elephant, for putting forward this debate. I accept and hope that we can set the stage ablaze with this one. To begin with, I am an ardent believer of the policy that abortion should be abolished. Abortion refers to the brutal murder, yes my friends, nothing less…
670.
Animals should be slaughtered for human food
For
I'm arguing animals should be slaughtered to feed humans. Round one can be used for acceptance or for arguments. Final round is to provide a summary and to tie up loose ends.
Con, " I want to first make clear for the voters that my opponent has the BOP to defend current animal slaughtering practices for the meat industry (see comments)" This is not true. I never agreed to defend animal slaughtering practices of the meat industry. I did tell you it…
Against
Intro: When discussing the killing of sentient animals, or the killing of anyone for that matter, it is extremely important to exercise caution. Historically, humans have tended to fail to exercise such consideration, and their history books are a testament to their mistakes.…
First, I know that there are a lot of strong opinions both for and against vegetarianism and the like. As I'm sure you know, personal expressions are best in "opinions" and "polls," and not votes. While expressing our own personal opinions are important, in this debate the only…
671.
Soldiers who kill in war are murderers
For
Thank you for your reply. I understand that the title of the debate may be vague, and by soldiers I am mainly referring to those fighting in modern day wars where it is the soldier's personal choice whether to sign up or not, and by murder I do mean the ethical and moral…
Ok, technically the definition of murder is the unlawful killing of someone. But killing someone, under any circumstance is surely unethical. If signing on a dotted line makes it legal to brutally kill someone else then where does that leave justifiable homicide such as acts…
Against
--
Thank you for clearing that up. Although I must say that the debate has obviously taken a different direction now. I will not personally agree or disagree with what you said in round two. Instead, I will try to win this debate.The debate was mainly to establish the difference,…
672.
Human personhood begins at conception
For
In R-4, I accused Con of using an appeal to authority in his defense of the status quo on abortion; "You are defending the status quo by citing the fact that it hasn't been ruled 'unconstitutional' (yet) as your defense. That is a classic "appeal to authority" attempt." Con…
While I am thankful to Con for his well-reasoned and civil approach to the issues in R3. I feel that I should correct my opponent on one crucial detail before addressing anything else this round.Recap In R3 I asked my opponent: "... Doesn't, the "equal protections" clause of…
Against
Pro has basically repeated much of his arguments without really addressing my own comments on the matter. I will address new points brought up and then provide a summary.Con's Burden:"This is interesting because when Con accepted the challenges of this debate (R1) He understood…
Appeal to Authority:"You are defending the status quo by citing the fact that it hasn't been ruled 'unconstitutional' (yet) as your defense. That is a classic "appeal to authority" attempt."Merely referencing an authority is not automatically a fallacy; "[N]ot all Appeals to…
673.
Abortion cannot be morally justified
For
My original intention was to find NARAL's official justification of abortion. Strangely enough, their website does not contain one. The only one I found was "a woman's right to choose". Therefore, I will focus on this idea of a woman's right to choose as justification for…
I would love to explain the benefits of privatization, but it would take too much time and it doesn't really have much bearing on this debate. I'll try to address it briefly. It is private industry's very preoccupation with money that makes privatization favorable. Whereas the…
Against
I'll admit, no one's ever bothered teaching me debate etiquette and besides, opening statements are rather pointless and in my opinion only really serve to waste time. So I'm just going to skip to the argument. So. Before I even start I want to go on a little tangent and point…
Well, thanks for the explanation for privatization, though I can't say I agree with it. "Wow. I don't think I've ever had my words twisted worse than you just did. When did I give that definition of human life? I was defining LIFE." Half of the purpose of a debate is to twist…
674.
Torture is an acceptable tool for investigations
For
Thank you for accepting I strongly believe that torture is the future for investigation, since it is the most effective way of getting information out of an inmate. As Ali Soufan, a FBI special agent experience investigating al-Qaeda operatives, states, "when they are in pain,…
There will be three rounds in this debate. First round is mainly for acceptance and rules however, I will also state my opinion as a start on the debate . You just have to say "I accept". Please do not start your arguments until the second round 1. No forfeits 2. No new…
Against
Since pro is not only arguing torture is good, but is the best way possible to obtain USEFUL information, they also have the burden of proving why any physically, economically, and mentally possible way is worse. Due to this. to prove them wrong, all I have to prove is that…
I accept.
675.
Abortion is the most controversial issue since slavery
For
First, this has nothing to do with citing sources so that is irrelevant. This is a debate website and thus anything at the topic is referred to as the resolution or debating topic. The goal is to base arguments around that resolution and arguments that are not resolutional are…
First, this has nothing to do with citing sources so that is irrelevant. This is a debate website and thus anything at the topic is referred to as the resolution or debating topic. The goal is to base arguments around that resolution and arguments that are not resolutional are…
Against
GEEEEZ, all I wanted was to be able to get enough characters into the title so that we could talk about abortion, which is the real issue. Besides, to go against this, I could say that the Vietnam War was much more controversial than abortion because of what the government was…
If you go to the MLA website, the title is what is on top, but if there is text after a colon, that is an idea, but not the subject of the debate.
676.
Abortion should be illegal in most circumstances
For
C1:Fetus=HumanMy opponent dismisses my argument that the fetus/embryo is part of the H. Sapiens species without any valid justification. Also, my opponent has dropped one of my most important points which is that the fetus/embryo has all the human DNA that will ever be…
Before I proceed, I would like to point out that I made a mistake. Most abortions are in fact performed in the embryonic Period and I will slightly change my argument according to this. This should cause no problem to my opponent as all of his arguments will apply this also.…
Against
I apologize, but I have to concede this debate due to IRL issues and since 3 hours is insufficient to create an adequate rebuttal. Vote PRO. LK, it was fun. I hope we have a rematch on this topic someday or some other topic. Good luck on the next phase of the tourney.Again, I…
Thanks for responding. I'm sorry for the delay, I've been busy with IRL stuffs. REBUTTAL Re: Fetus = Human Again, all my opponent has argued here is that the potential life inside the woman's womb is part of the species homo sapiens, and that it will evolve and eventually…
677.
Using euthanasia is morally wrong
For
Con's entire case rests on the notion that suffering, in the physical sense, is measurable while the mental sense is not. Con then contradicts this by stating that if a person states 'I want to die' that is in and of itself evidence that they are beyond repair. The person could…
The main point from which this entire case shall evolve is that suffering and pain are neither legally nor medically verifiable.You can measure physical pain itself to some degree but there is no possible way to determine if the psychology of that person is too depressed,…
Against
My opponent claims no way to verify if their will to live has gone. But my response to that is that If there is no way to verify the will to live, then they will not use euthanasia since the patient hasn't asked for it. IF they were to experience such a medial condition as you…
K debate will resume me and opponent and i talked my bad for 48 hour time should have put 72. Ignore forfeit opponent will respond to arguments next round.
678.
Abortion should be legal and unrestricted
For
I can argue that dihydrogen monoxide is not water, that doesn't mean my argument has truth behind it. Additionally, human's dependence on computers is extremely different from a fetus' dependence on its mother. Humans would be able to survive without any use of computers,…
What's important to realize about abortion is the fact that it is absolutely not murder. If abortion actually did involve the killing of a child, it would have never been a legal option in the first place. You simply cannot logically argue that a child is killed if said child…
Against
"I can argue that dihydrogen monoxide is not water, that doesn't mean my argument has truth behind it." What"s the purpose of this statement? This is basically saying that when people say something they could be lying which is obvious. Second, when you state that my analogy is…
My opponent states that the fetus isn"t human because why would it be an option in the first place, but I could also say that if it wasn"t anything but goo, why would people be fighting against abortion? The point neglects that abortion being illegal, is a valid legal option…
679.
Torture is neither justified nor effective
For
Thankyou. Firstly, you said that you were going to make some definitions. You haven't made definitions, you have quoted them. This is the first hole in your argument. Torture is more than just about giving up information. It can also be used as revenge, punishment etc. Hence…
I accept
Against
And this information can be extracted through means of torture. A tool that over 141 countries around the world use, it can extract useful information that would otherwise be hard to gain. These countries have shown that the use of torture was useful in their cases, as they…
There will be four rounds in this debate. The first debate is for acceptance. You just have to say "I accept". Please do not start your arguments until the second round 1. No forfeits 2. No new arguments in the final round, though extra explanations of arguments already…
680.
Factory farming is morally superior to dogfighting
For
I was hoping for a great debate however it was rather sad. As for me my name is Brian N Johnson, this debate is now over.
Extend again.
Against
Pro will post an argument Round 1Rules1. No forfeits2. Full citations should be provided in the text of the debate3. No new arguments in the final round4. Maintain a civil and decorous atmosphere5. No trolling6. No "kritiks" of the topic (e. g. justice is unknowable, rights…
681.
Bestiality should be legalized
For
Thank you for taking the time to write another rebuttal. Unfortunately, I have to disagree with you; playing the God card by no means ends the debate right there. I don't know what country you're from, nor do I care, but in America (i.e. the country this debate pertains to), we…
Hello there, and thank you for responding to my opening argument. Reading your rebuttal, I found the one word to sum it up perfectly: "WTF." Why? Because, well, that's pretty much all you said. Let's go ahead and examine your rebuttal more carefully.Your responses to my points…
Against
The only arguments you have are to take sentences out of my debate and comment on them. You have yet to prove your point on why it should be legalized. What benefits? How it could help society etc. etc. The topic of bestiality is subjective. In our society it is subjectively…
Well from a religious standpoint God forbid having intercourse with animals so if you have any sort of religious spin on this debate it's over right there. There is a reason humans run society and not animals. We are separated from them. We have evolved to a higher class than…
682.
Torture should be permitted against suspected terrorists
For
Perhaps "niceties" were never thrown out the window as I had never offered them. Concluding from what I have read from my friend's last attempt was that he missed the entire point and did not understand my argument in the slightest. Lets clarify them again. I do not believe…
Do not misunderstand my argument, I completely understand that the topic is about suspected terrorists or I would not have accepted this debate. Lets also clarify what Con did not understand about my argument despite he thinks it is "clearly well thought out and reasonable."…
Against
Well appearing that you've thrown niceties out the window, and tried to use my own courtesy against me. I will follow suit. Pro clearly didn't read his own link... "Key findings The study"s 20 findings and conclusions can be grouped into four central themes, each of which is…
Thank you for presenting a clearly well thought out and reasonable debate. Thanks for also avoid major rebuttals, that small one I will ignore because I expected something like that and had prepare my own rebuttal. I also want to apologise for leaving this quite late. My main…
683.
Being gay is not inherently wrong
For
So this squarely rebuts her earlier claim in round 2, that "the only reason we have to believe most of these events occurred are because it says so in the Bible which was compiled HUNDREDS OF YEARS AFTER THE EVENTS supposedly occurred. There is no conclusive evidence that the…
My points still stand since they have not been refuted.
Against
My apologies; internet connection problems stopped me from posting in the previous round. Now my opponent asked me to source where Ignatius quotes the Gospels. First, let me source that Ignatius died between 98 and 117 CE and was a student of he apostle John.…
My opponent says that Jesus burial by Joseph, his empty tomb, his appearances afterwards, and the origin of the disciples' belief have not been proven to be historical facts. So she is using the "myth theory," that these were fabrications. But we have good reason to believe…
684.
Slurs should be protected as free speech
For
I'm going to give one big point because I do believe that this point relates to all of my opponents points. Offensive is defined as something that causes someone to feel hurt,, upset or even angry. This means that just about anything can be offensive to anybody and the reason…
The strongest most prevalent definition of the word is offensive. From this statement, you have to determine what the "traditional usage" is. (I'm going to use the n-word as example). Back during the civil rights movement, the n-word was used in order to degrade the African…
Against
Your current argument is a little abstract so I'd like to take my time to break it down.My opponent's definition of offensive is "Offensive is defined as something that causes someone to feel hurt, upset or even angry." This is a fine definition and I will support it entirely.…
1) Use-Mention Distinction"In that case I am an African American myself and I am not offended by this debate at all even though we are discussing the n-word."There is a difference between using and mentinoing a word. In this conversation we have only ever been refering to a…
685.
Abortion should be illegal after six weeks of pregnancy
For
Ah........the decades old argument of abortion...... Abortion is wrong after six weeks. At 5 weeks or a little bit earlier, the fetus has started developing a brain,heart, and spine. These organs takes about 1-3 weeks to fully form (as much as a fetus's brain would form). and…
Heartbeat develops at 6 weeks. It is alive and human. Women can find out if they are pregnant sooner than the period you stated. If you are even the slightest bit responsible you would know if its a possibility that you are pregnant and they could check. Even if it has ended…
Against
Hello! Let me just start off by saying I hope we can both get some clean points off. 1. I am a republican 2. I am going to be blunt, you are wrong. First off, the majority of women only find out they are pregnant about 4 and a half to 5 weeks in the pregnancy. If what you…
In all technicality, the child is alive at conception as it is a living cell for the first half hour of it's life. So with your argument and logic, abortions should be completely illegal. Should it not? Even with birth control, there is a chance that the woman will become…
686.
Women should have the right to choose abortion
For
A woman's body is her own. It is unethical to take away her rights to bodily autonomy (including reproductive organs), by using her body as the means to an end...whatever the motives might be. Therefore, forcing a woman to carry a fetus to term without her consent, is using her…
I conceded that life begins at the moment of conception, stating that it is obviously clear. I did not concede, as you would like to suggest, that "person hood" begins at the moment of conception. In my argument I stated that let's say, life and "person hood" begin at the…
Against
PRO has apparently taken the approach of ignoring all of my arguments and repeating her own ad nauseum without addressing a single point I have raised against them. Therefore, I will be brief in going over the points raised throughout the debate. ===> AFFIRMATIVE ARGUMENTS <===…
I can't help but wonder if she could put her hands to better use than covering her eyes and ignoring the SPECIFIC points I have raised against every contention. Say, finding citations to support her unfounded claims, perhaps? My opponent claims that I have not answered three…
687.
Abortion is murder and should be illegal
For
As my opponent has forfeited, it would be bad manners to post a new argument. So consider me to resubmitted tge same argument for my opponent to debate
Baby-cell of human Murder-termination of a PERSON For arguments sake, lets start with rape- not the babys fault. Would you punish a woman for being raped? Would you punish a rape baby? Incest-same argument. For consentual- its sheer irresponsibility. For health of the mother- C…
Against
Please do start by defining terms during your turn, like murder, baby, etc. , as I'm sure we have disagreements on what each term means. ScarletAtheist
What my opponent seems to not understand is that a fetus and a human are very different things. A two week old embryo in a woman's body should not and does not have any right, especially when compared to the rights of a grown women. "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness"…
688.
Suicide is a selfish act
For
http://www.youtube.com...
http://www.youtube.com...
Against
To take your own life, in some people eyes, is a selfish act. I don't think so. You could have done it on accident, or you could have been bullied or had a sad and depressing life. You could have been mentally sick. None of these are selfish. To take your own life is really,…
689.
Convicted rapists should not be sympathized with after serving time
For
There are signs that, even if the illness isn't revealed until after the crime is committed, demonstrate that something is wrong with the individual. The difference with people that rob and steal is that those are material necessities/desires that are taken. During a rape, a…
It is true that some of these sex offenders may have some kind of mental disorder but then it lies upon the family of that individual to make sure that person is treated and taken care of. Nowadays it is almost a form of neglect if someone isn't treated for such illness. They,…
Against
People that rape others are going after their desires. Just like everyone else they have desires it's just where they choice to place that desire and feel which is wrong. And the sentencing on rape Vs. other crimes varies in degree.
You say that that the rapist should have been treated before hand but how are they to be treated when a rapist can in fact look to be the average joe. There are some people that walk around wearing suits but at night rape woman etc. the disorder don't usually reveal themselves…
690.
Abortion is morally wrong
For
IntroductionMy opponent seems to contradict himself in his arguments - as he claims that 'morals don't really exist' yet he bases most of his arguments on how abortion could reduce suffering. But this makes the implicit assumption that it is moral to act in such a way as to…
As explained in the comments, my opponent unfortunately missed the deadline for posting his argument. But as I wish to continue the debate, I have allowed him to post his round 2 arguments in the comments. Here is the link: http://pastebin.com...I will now refute Con's…
Against
RapeMy opponent states that abortion would cause long-term anxiety to one. While this could possibly be true for some woman, remember for many woman, avoiding pregnancy especially at a young age, would cause less damage to them. He then goes on to state that if it does cause an…
RapeAbortion is justified when a rape victim is justified from pregnancy. Philocat argues that abortion is not justifiable and is equivalant to a murder of a human being. However, getting rid of an undeveloped fetus/embryo that can't think, isn't conscious, and has no history…
691.
Abortion is morally wrong
For
I believe this debate has turned in to a debate about whether God exists or not. I will reply on what you said in your earlier argument, but this was not my intention with this debate. First: What do you mean with "Christianity promises everything and accomplished nothing"? God…
Could you please write in English so I have chance to understand your argument? Since I don't know you argument, I cannot reply to it. But, I will instead continue with my own opinion; that abortion is a sin. In God's eyes, an unborn child isn't just a collection of tissues or…
Against
When i accepted this debate my intention was not to direct my arguments for the existence of God or not, at the beginning my goal was to defend the right to choose without so many penalties or judgments by religions. In the course, when you expressed your opinion became clear…
Religion took a very critical role on abortion putting the very belief of a person against itself, ie handles. And worst of all is that in addition to manipulate, Christianity promises everything and accomplishes nothing is based on uncertainties. Does a religion like that…
692.
Abortion should be illegal
For
I will waive this round as agreed upon.
"Then my opponent says that it includes unborn children, and this is false. My opponent, suprisinly doesn't work hard on his arguments, and doesn't say *anything* about the fetus in the debate only just say that it is a human, and gives a bare assertion for this. I showed many…
Against
I will be posting my defense in this round, and the conclusion of the debate. My opponent will have to waive next round. My opponent doesn't say anything else about the framework, so I will assume it is the same as what he did say in this second round. My opponent says that…
My opponent's arguments are very short, so my rebuttal will be short also. This round will *just* be for rebuttals from me, as the structure says, and the next round will be about the defense of my arguments as my opponent rebutted them last round, and the conclusion of the…
693.
Elective abortion should be banned in the United States
For
i) Basically all my opponent says in response here is that a woman has a choice to recieve a back alley abortion, and must accept responibility for that action. So the Pro is going against the "Pro-Life" point of view and saying that a woman should indeed have a choice. So, in…
Observation I: Abortion used to be illegal. a) According to The Socialist Worker (http://socialistworker.org......), abortion was illegal between the late 1800s and 1973. When abortion was illegal, women had abortions anyway, and often times, this was done in "back-yard" or…
Against
First things first: this has been one of my favorite debates in a while, whether in an actual competition or online. I'd like to thank the Pro yet again for offering this up... Hobey ho, let's go!…
Here we go! Obsv. 1: a: i) Basically all my opponent says in response here is that a woman has a choice to recieve a back alley abortion, and must accept responibility for that action. So the Pro is going against the "Pro-Life" point of view and saying that a woman should…
694.
Violence is sometimes a necessity
For
Now I feel stupid. I misread Con's argument. I really don't know how to defend my contention now, because I would have to say murder is neccasary. However, I can still defend one of my arguments. I was using the argument of a food chain to say that humans would be extinct…
I meant violence was necessary for humans to exist, and, actually, come to think of it, everything to exist, now and forever. I have no problem debating this stance, even though it was not my original intention. This is because innumerable food chains would be broken without…
Against
Thanks Pro, I always appreciate a good response.Clarification of contentionIn this round, Pro has agreed to the resolution I proposed in round 1, which is "violence between humans is necessary for life". I'd like to point out that Pro did not contend the time dimension aspects…
Thanks for the debate. This should be interesting. Contention The most important word in this debate's resolution is "necessity". Based on the gravity of the subject matter, it seems clear to me that necessity in this context means "necessary for life". Note also that the…
695.
Freedom of sexuality is a human right
For
"Forcing someone else to engage in a sexual act is immoral and falls under the range of acts that the government has every right to prevent and prosecute." For one, I don't know if it's the government's job to dictate morality. For two, sexual assault should have no greater…
"A government should be able to place some limit on where sexual activities occur." Only in so far as the protection of property rights are concerned. Like i should not have to worry about people making out in my living room, but as far as people in public, to me its like…
Against
Forcing someone else to engage in a sexual act is immoral and falls under the range of acts that the government has every right to prevent and prosecute. Engaging in sexual conduct in public view is essentially forcing a level of participation on the observers. There are many…
Let me first say that I respect that people have different sexual orientations and that I see nothing wrong with that. I accepted this argument on the basis of what you posted in your argument. Firstly, I believe there are many sexual activities between consenting sentient…
696.
Morals can exist without religion
For
Your argument does not make any sense. Objective morals do not exist. Religion was created by man, therefore man created moral. An atheist can be just as moral as a christian. Someone who has never even heard of religion can be just as moral as a religious person. There was a…
Objective Morals do not exist. All morals are created by man to serve a purpose. Without religions, morals would still exist. Morals taken from the bible are terrible.
Against
Untrue, as light shining upon morals is needed to reveal their existence Darkness = Ignorance Without knowledge we cant know if we are moral. Also, Pro has not provided any sources for his argument.
It's impossible for morals to exist without religion because internal struggle is a byproduct of external lighting. This lighting is provided by religion - Just think about it. The past is a unfinished book with graffiti inside - this graffiti is only seen if you have light.…
697.
Abortion within the first 20 weeks of pregnancy is morally acceptable
For
Definitions Abortion: The termination of a pregnancy after, accompanied by, resulting in, or closely followed by the death of the embryo or fetus. (Merriam-Webster) Morality: A code of conduct put forward by a society. (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy) Used to determine…
My opponent has forfeited. Please extend all arguments.
Against
Regardless on with the debate :D -->: My opponent defines morality "Morality: A code of conduct put forward by a society. (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy) Used to determine right and wrong. Morally acceptable: Permitted by morality. ". But unfortuantely my opponent does no…
698.
Gun ownership is a moral right
For
Introductions and whatever. I'm for the proposition: Gun ownership is a moral right. Four rounds. No new arguments in last round. 6,000 characters.
Against
Ave.Pro has given no arguments, so there is nothing to refute. The resolution is not affirmed.Vale.
Ave.Pro has given no arguments, so there is nothing to refute. The resolution is not affirmed.Vale.
699.
Most abortions are murder
For
I would like to begin by reaffirming the emotional sensitivity of this topic. My hope is to have a respectful and constructive discussion without offending or angering either side. I would also like to once again clarify that we will not be discussing cases of rape, incest, or…
My position for this debate is that in most cases, abortion should be considered murder. The qualifier "most" is used because I wish to exclude abortion in cases of rape, incest, or danger to the life of the mother. I believe these are unique situations and they make up a very…
Against
Some people he sex and don't want a baby so Rey use a condom.. Well what if the condom breaks now they have to get rid of the baby... It's way easier to just get an abortion
1 Human NamesMy distinction of using the name to begin human life can work if you consider "human" vs "human life". A human corpse is human, since it still has 46 chromosomes (you can get DNA from hair and other dead cells), but it's not "human life". Interestingly a human…
700.
Abortion should remain illegal
For
Thankyou ConCon's points will be in bold:Including rape? Or does this count as "life of mother" circumstances?Well, if you follow my 3 premises, it would seem as though rape is no excuse for abortion. That is not life of the mother necessarily because there is nothing about a…
TO ALL READING THIS:I apologize for the title. I should have said "Abortion should be illegal" not "remain." Obviously it is not illegal now (at least not entirely) and therefore it was a misuse in words. I don't think I can edit it now, but that is what was obviously meant.…
Against
I shall rebut!It is my argument however that in every other instance, abortion should be illegal.Including rape? Or does this count as "life of mother" circumstances?We have 4 rounds, so we can debate that if it is deemed…
I HEARBY ACCEPT YOUR CHALLENGE! Good luck!

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