Philosophy Debate Topics for Students

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• My opponent has failed to understand points behind my argument and has made claims of connections I have never made.HE HAS NOT REFUTED THE LOGICAL PREMISES AND CONCLUSIONS I CREATED IN ROUND 2.Final Statement on My PositionMy opponent has failed to understand my argument and…
• Fact/Value Distinction:I think something Con and I can defnitily agree on is that philosphy is changing and there are a number of rivaling philosphies at any given time.Kant and Pirsig use the same initial basis as Hume but branch in a different direction. While Hume refuses to…

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• For the final stage in my argument, I intend to prove that despite both our arguments on the nature of a first cause, we cannot prove beyond reasonable doubt either of our suggestions, and will explain how this in fact also supports the motion that universe has a purpose. As…
• I shall begin the next stage of my argument with some rebuttals to the various points and counter-arguments raised by the opposition, chiefly the sentience of the first cause. Additionally I intend to introduce a new key point in my argument, regarding humanity. Primarily then,…

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• I conceed the round due to the previous forfeit and accordingly, ZenoCitium and I shall have a rematch. If interested in the full debate please visit this link:http://www.debate.org......
• I conceed the round due to the previous forfeit and accordingly, ZenoCitium and I shall have a rematch. If interested in the full debate please visit this link:http://www.debate.org...

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• My apologies if that is what you literally took out of my arguments in round one. I don't mean the individual will take the best choice, but follow the most fitting one. In your case it would be most fitting to follow that path. For the situation and the information within that…
• Human beings do have choice, but not freedom within it. As the choice represents the possibility it is only revealed for those who qualify for it. The options shown only to those with the right information at that moment thus giving certain preferences that are higher than…

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• First I'll make the scientific arguments as to why an afterlife is impossible. 'Contradictory to the second law of thermodynamics as well as "all living things must die". Once you demonstrate for us how this contradicts the second law of thermodynamics I will then refute it. '…
• I do agree to the statement: 'atheistman must prove without a doubt that there is absolutely no possibility that an afterlife can occur. ' Because an afterlife is illogical, devoid of evidence, and even breaks a few laws of the universe. These laws include: Second Law of…

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• I have noticed something of an anomaly regarding your title. You are against 'arguments involving moral standards are weak and useless', but your argument is clearly Pro, which makes no sense. Please inform me what side I am on, as I am confused on that matter.

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• Hard to offer a rebuttal since my opponent forfeited the last round.
• Almost everything policy (or lack thereof) in the world has pros and cons. The question is if the pros significantly outweigh the cons. My argument extends that belief to state that lawmakers should also consider whether the action has the has the resonable potential to harm…

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• The premise is: it is possible for everyone to live forever. Let's me explain it clearer. That means people would not die because of aging-associated diseases. Only active intervention would cause to death. And if there are no active intervention like accident (implying no…
• Everyone want to prolong their life. So, what it would be if people could live forever? The first round is not for argument, just saying your idea about this. Good luck for the next round.

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• I want this to be in a public forum format in a sense. I hope i get a response. Today the resolution states that: Anthropocentrism ought to be valued above biocentrism I offer the following definitions Anthropocentrism-Interpreting reality exclusively in terms of human value…
• I want this to be in a public forum format in a sense. I hope i get a response. Today the resolution states that: Anthropocentrism ought to be valued above biocentrism I offer the following definitions Anthropocentrism-Interpreting reality exclusively in terms of human value…

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• One thing I have to argue: Your definition of perfection, when it comes to pens, is that if a pen can write, it is perfect. ------------------------ Socrates: So the third pen is perfect, because it writes, correct? Student: Yes, it is. Socrates: But most people can't use this…
• Sorry about last round. I lost track of time with homework and such, so I missed the round. In your definition of perfection, I agree. The total absence of flaws. With that said, each person has a different standard for perfection, and I would like to offer two alternate…

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• I will tackle my opponent's argument in chunks for clarity. I will give the beginning and ending statements of each chunk in quotations and capital letters before my responses. Please reference my opponent's Round 1 speech in order to understand all argumentation. "R.A:…
• Congratulations, TheLwerd, on making it this far in the tournament undefeated. Thank you, judges, for your analysis, and spectators, if there are any, for your interest. Now, without further ado, let's boogie: *** "I am for those means which will give the greatest good to the…

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• Thanks to Hello Orange for joining. Here, I will firstly explain how a fine tuning argument works. Then I will show it doesn't. Framing the Fine tuning argument The Cosmological data suggests that a universe with any of its initial conditions or parameters (like the…
• I'd like to debate, once more, the merits of the fine tuning argument.The fine tuning argument for the debate is any argument that uses in its premises data about the 'fine tuning' or apparently narrow life permitting range of the various constants, and concludes with the…

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• In the same spirit I will attempt to put forward an unbias and logical case. I agree to point 2 and 3 but due to the seriousness of this debate I believe God needs to be defined clearly. We can decide on a mutually agreed defenition of God during the debate and continue the…
• Bop on pro God is defined as the sentient creator of the known universe Probably is defined as more than 50% possibilty Exists is defined as not imagined.

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• Rebuttals Firstly because the con has mixed their arguements and rebuttals, I cannot tell the difference and also believe they have no arguments unless stated otherwise. Thus now i am going to rebut their rebuttals. - The example of jimmy the politician and a maths failer…
• Hello ladies and gentleman Lets make very simple before I start my case Flaws - My opponent firstly is assuming that being wrong is bad and as there are no arguments to support this claim; This argument can be dropped. Thus the opponent does not have a single valid arguments…

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• Closing StatementThe resolution before us presents a difficult epistemological dilemma for my opponent, and while his argumentation regarding the nature of falsification is learned, he seems to be missing the point. The point is not that falsification operates as intended…
• I appreciate the lengths to which my opponent went in explaining how science does not require induction. In so doing, he helped me realize that my first argument was needlessly specific. Like my opponent's rebuttal, my argument was focused on the means, but the real argument…

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• Con can conceived the overwhelming size of the universe, thus proving all my points. I again direct Con to my prior arguments.
• Con's counter lacks substance, and most of it is contradicted by the supporting evidence in my Round 1 argument. We are in harmony with the universe; that doesn't mean we can speak of every individual factor. Harmony is between the cohesive human and the overall universe, and,…

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• therfore con is a lier
• ddo IS a website

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• The reason is because children have more energy than adults and that why they can imagine things that adults cant see. But sometime Children who play imaginary games or listen to lots of fairy tales, stories read aloud from books, or tales spun by those around them tend to have…
• Imagination is rea. Tots play pretend games and they believe in things like fairies exist. Unfortunately as children grow up they lose their imagination and they come a place where reality. Imagination is very important in everybody life.

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• I can tell you did not read the rule about argument size.. "This wager is incomplete because it ignores every other religion." No, it doesn't. It simply states that it is safer to be Theist than to not to be a Theist. "Thus it is very obvious that the best pick is Thor worship…
• Thank you for accepting. Now, The only argument that I've known against Pascal's Wager is reverse Ad Populus and "Dumb Christians use it, so it's fallible". The other argument i've seen is "It's just as probable that Atheits will go to heaven". But, if you think about it, it…

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• con is taking the position 'the unlimited can limit itself'. he takes the position because he dutifully notes that according to our reality, even if those forces could exist, tehy couldn't exist at the same time. the problem, though, is that this shows that the unlimited is…
• the 'unlimited paradox' - the unlimited is proven to be a false idea weakest point. the unlimited paradox states that an immovable object cannot exist at the same time as an unstoppable force. the fact that it cannot exist at the same time, shows that the unlimited truly…

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• IF ANY ONE were a 100% Fully human, that leaves NO room for e.g. a supernatural archangel! The Debate Topic speaks for itself!
• Con: The point I have made, and it's a simple one, is that since the personality of the Archangel, which was put into Christ's 100% human body did not need any room, therefore, there was more than enough room for it.Pro: #1: Hebrews 2:17 from Cons own Story book propaganda is…

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• Before my actual argument, I would like to point out that Con repeatedly breaks the rules he agreed to. In citing Wikipedia and quoting Murray Rothbard – far from the only example – he introduces outside evidence, which was specifically agreed to be invalid. This last would not…
• The rules for this debate As Pro, I will argue that Anarchism – Anarcho-Capitalism in particular – implies a negation of the legitimacy of individual rights. Con will defend the Anarchist position that, on the contrary, individual rights are possible only in Anarchy. This is a…

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• Indeed, I wanted a shared burden of proof, excuse me that I did not make it clear.WomenI do not agree with Con's statement. Throughout history women were looked at as second class citizens.I believe that women were never 'second class' citizens. The only point is that more…
• And meanwhile, I apologize for my irony. Ambition, Sir, is not just about wanting to have fun. It is about being prepared to put real effort to achieve pleasure. And what morality has got to do with morality is quite simple. The way of learning good and bad (what morality is…

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• You have a point, but it's not weather you're caring about you're own life or not. It's if you're caring about it at all. I agree that taking a bullet to the arm to save a loved one is a noble thing to do, and would also make you look good (chucles), but you're also thinking of…
• If you've ever seen a factory billowing smoke about, then you'll think of pollution, something being made for the sake of mankind, or you won't care. If you don't care, you're not being selfish. If you think of it as for the sake of mankind, you're being reasonably selfish. If…

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• If I were to prove that sharks exist, I only need to show that 1 type of shark lives in 1 place. I would not need to find every type of shark, nor would I need to find them everywhere. The same applies for beauty. I only need to find one source of beauty for one location, to…
• I shall construct my debate in multiple rounds, rather then posting my entire argument this round. Based off of the definition provided, we know that Beauty provides "perceptual experience of pleasure, meaning, or satisfaction. " However if we look at pleasure, meaning, and…

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• "Yes, ideally, we all would use logic and fact-based evidence. Unfortunately that is not the case. We still have many, many arguments in the world that have no evidence involved whatsoever." And you could hardly classify them as an argument. Its not just scientific evidence to…
• --That's wrong." And that's simply contradiction. "PRO must prove that the above statement either: 1. Isn't an argument against the resolution. 2. Is indeed 'a connected series of statements intended to establish a proposition' and not simply 'a contrary position to the…

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• In this argument I will defend the neccessity of human evils particularly a few big ones. Such as, Lust, hate, Violence, greed, and cruelty. No proof of your arguments is needed unless a statistical statement is made. My opponents will pick their own virtues to defend.

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• such thing as perfection is an illusion it is created by humans especially the weak . the people who seek every thing without the will to sacrifice anything . to get results without putting effort . they make an image that can never exist a group of the values they seek not…

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• Definition of transhumanism;"Transhumanism (abbreviated as H+ or h+) is an international cultural and intellectual movement with an eventual goal of fundamentally transforming the human condition by developing and making widely available technologies to greatly enhance human…
• Many of the Con's arguments are flawed and fallacious. "Technology mustn't be explored when the potential for harm is too great."This is an appeal to consequence and fear. By that logic none of science should be explored due to the potential for abuse. Abuse and misuse will…

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• I'll start with your second statement, 'that an object can be a rock'. I proved this false in my first argument, because it is possible that we have never had a sample of what is actually a rock, so we have no way of knowing if it is actually possible for a rock to exist. On…
• A rock would be both a rock under circumstances similar to that of Schr"dinger cat. Say that the rock was in a box with a cesium atom and a disintegration device. When the atom decayed, then the disintegration device would turn the rock into a pile of ash. Therefore, the object…

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• My opponent, once again, forfeited. I can only draw the conclusion that he has given up. Because my opponent cedes to my arguments, you should vote for me - Aff. This was a good half debate and I look forward to the next one. Thank you.
• My opponent has given up on the round. Though this may be due to mulitiple reasons, all I can assume is that he cannot refute my attacks. If this is so, then the round goes to me. Hopefully my opponent will speak in the last round. Thank you for your time.

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• Thanks Con! Onto the final round.Con gives 3 objections; let's go through each of them.AnalogyCon argues that maths cannot be used to prove anything in the universe because it is an unsound analogy. However, it seems that the axioms of maths are universal, necessary and…
• Thanks Pro! I hope you enjoy this debate!First for the introductory definitions. i) S = everything that exists or has existed. ii) --> on S = if some y-->x then y is a cause of x. iii) x is at least one of the causes of x for all x in S iv) :. --> is transitive. v) If x-->y and…

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• There are several problems with my opponents case. Most notably, since burden of proof is shared he must offer a argument in favour of physicalism or else lose the debate as well. My opponent has not given us a single reason to accept physicalism.Argument from Reason: Did I…
• I will be taking the view that two different substances exist: physical and non-physical. physicalist: A person holding that any physical event that has a cause at time t has a physical cause at t Naturalism: entities that exist are those discoverable, in theory, by the…

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• Thanks for debating this topic with me imabench. Sorry about my late replies. .real life gets in the way at times. I'll just clear up a few things in this round. First, extend all my arguments. He hasn't made any substaintial attacks against them. I will reply to the ones he…
• Thanks imabench.I already see a Pro ballot for this round. I will explain why.First, he concedes that existence is always preferred to non-existence. You can vote pro. This concession is HIGHLY significant, because it totally affirms the resolution and causes you to drop his…

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• Alright then, 200 - 300 words? . I see your point. But id like to ask one thing , what caused them ( HIC ) to steal? and yes, 'good intentions', the idea of it is subjective to everyone.
• Alright, to begin , i would like to state that these points would be very suggestive. If you do not agree, its cool. Anyway, wrong doings are created by the actions with good intentions. To support this , I would like to use a common crime in under-developed countries.…

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• Good morning, afternoon, evening or mid-night. Now I accept my opponent's points and let me start off by saying, no of course time would not stop all of a sudden and no, this is not the topic. The topic is that time which is always and always will be existent is the ultimate…
• Good Morning, Afternoon or any other greeting depending on time. My name is WARHEADMITCH and I shall be vouching for the pro side. That time is the ultimate evil and that it always will be the ultimate evil until the end of the universe and existence overall, unless you have…

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• This proves that a human is indeed defined by what he or she does exactly. Also, In this day and age humans are defined by what he or she looks like almost immediately. For example, when a person walks into a room we instantly judge them by their looks, taking in what they're…
• are we still arguing this topic?

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• Dude gotta read the defs. Superior-superior-ASTRON. farther from the sun than the earth is: said of five planets designating that conjunction which occurs when the sun is directly between the earth and an inferior planet so, if we human kids are closer to the sun than them…
• look jimothy, you gotta look at my definitions I will say it again. Superior-ASTRON. farther from the sun than the earth is: said of five planets designating that conjunction which occurs when the sun is directly between the earth and an inferior planet ok so we humans live in…

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• I in forward want to apologize for my short answer, For I do not intend to disrespect you by giving such a short answer of mine to such a long and well-thought argument of yours. I think it was a mistake of me to use the term "perspective", As indeed it is linked to…
• I am aware that the vocabulary used may be confusing to some. Still, I decided to use this vocabulary, For it describes in the most concise and precise way the ideas of the "theory", If you will. I can assure you that you have correctly interpreted the text. Unfortunately, I…

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• RE: Only One Country Has Physical Dominance Coveny claims that because there is one country / government that is MOST dominant (i. e. , the USA) no other government can exhibit dominance. That is silly. China, Russia, North Korea and Iran are just a few examples of countries…
• Coveny opens this debate by claiming the pen encompasses the sword, while the sword does not encompass the pen. That is wrong. Indeed it is the other way around. * * *Rebuttal - Part 1 1. Con's first point is that, "It is much more effective to follow the laws that have been…

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• i do apologize for the forfeited round, i had other obligations that overshadowed the recollection of this debates time frame. now then, first off i would like to recognize that i agree there are many bad things in the belief in an afterlife. many differing interpretations give…
• I accept

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• A thing is only considered morally wrong by society if it causes pain, or some other negative emotion. For example, theft is considered bad because loss of property would result in negative emotions. If you felt equally good with or without these things, and this was true in…
• When one thinks of things that are good, or desirable, where does one derive this sense of "goodness?" The answer is actually fairly simple; these activities or items illicit a positive response from us and result in our long term happiness or contentment. The opposite is also…

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• A Fool in itself.The Fool: Most of my life the only things I had thought to be true and exist where that which I derived from my senses, and or through my senses. However it is my very Idea invested in the meaning of that sentence which is the proof that there is much more than…
• Cogito Ergo Sum This is often phrased in English as "I think therefore I am" This debate will be about the certainty of self-existence I will be arguing for its Absolute certainty. Con will be arguing against it. Bop is on me Terms of acceptance 1. Appeal to authorty or…

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• I will choose not to take offense to the fact that you felt no need to bring specific examples to disprove me. But I encourage you to broaden your mind, because although difficult, I do not see this as "an impossible stance". Your assertion that sacrifice and charity "can not…
• You accept? I thought the point is for you to reject my position?

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• My opponent was unable to finish this debate for whatever reason, as such voters should vote for my position. Thank you for your interest and time. Have a pleasant day.
• For whatever reason my opponent has decided to forfeit their round - in the interest of fairness I will not post further arguments or rebuttals. Instead I will state that due to forfeit my position deserves the Conduct point. Thank you for reading.

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• THE PRIMACY OF WANT I believe the first question that anyone should ask themselves when doing anything is to ask themselves — "Why bother?"� There is a clear distinction between having a "reason to" do something, and understanding the "reason why" something is done. The…
• Okay, then! More definitions, both for my opponent and for readers possibly not familiar with ethical philosophy. Propositions are the meanings behind statements that can either be true or false. By arguing that ethical claims are propositions, I'm arguing that one can be wrong…

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• I am glad we have a consensus on the definition, however we may have conflicting views on the part of altruism, which I shall be glad to further debate if my opponent wishes to bring it up in the third round. In defense: There are, undoubtably, events in one's life where one…
• Hello all. Thanks to my opponent for offering this debate. I look forward very much to debating him. I'm generally wary of Wikipedia so I would like to amend the definition, which, currently is: Psychological egoism or egotism is the view that humans are always motivated by…

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• Your pack of animals, namely humans, and the white man's pack had a war. You lost. I do not see the issue. If I fight an opponent and they cut off my hand and I scream in pain and beg them to stop they will not stop. They might even rape me anally, it is purely their decision…
• I accept but since you are the instigator and I am the contender (i speak second) I need to first understand your case against it.

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• I would Just like to mention before I go into my argument that it has been a good debate which I have thoroughly enjoyed partaking in. Now for my argument, There is a difference between being elite and being paramount in keeping society functioning. The elite should not…
• Regardless of whether talent can be found in individuals it is the fact that it is exploited by people in corporations who in turn gain the most profit or end result, for example, the people that designed the script for superman were pretty much broke regardless of the fact…

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• thinking about it is pointless without having seen it, having knowledge of it so you know the future?
• having no fear, is accepting now as it is