I dislike this particular set of definitions, personally. A debate should be defined as a discussion involving a topic that the people speaking disagree on. What you describe that has a clear focus on winning as opposed to being correct is known as formal debate. I agree with your criticism in that sense. The only way to actually win from a debate is to be enlightened. Can't do much of that if you go in already being correct.
RE: Debate vs. Discussion
You are viewing a single comment's thread from:
Debate vs. Discussion
I think the OP is illustrating the lack of charity now prevalent in our society. Many of the modern so-called debates are mere technical exercise in exposing logical fallacies, rather than exploration of an assumption or a hypothesis to its logical application. Because our language has been hijacked by those who are driven solely by the conviction of their ignorance, I think reframing the word-choices is a viable tactic in the OP's attempt to elucidate his conclusion.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
I get the attempt, but it sends the wrong message. Debate is what we need, not an apprehension to it. Formal debate needs reform, for sure, in exactly the ways that he criticizes. But newspeak wordplay changing of the definition of debate doesn't help that cause. It's like changing history for a good cause. It's still a bad idea. Besides, wordplay to make a point is the very sort of problem that he's speaking against.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
I see. Then maybe we need to coin an adjective to describe the newspeak "debate" term: I know! "newspeak debate" to describe the modern "debate" format and use debate to describe what we will be doing.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Or we could just criticise the practice of "formal debate" that turns truth seeking into political sports.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
What can be "won" from a debate?
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Enlightenment. The ability to see reality in a new light that you've never considered before.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit