After Donald Trump dominated the Iowa caucuses, Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley said Tuesday that she will debate only Trump or President Joe Biden.
Perhaps sway the audience, but I’ve never seen a debate where the participants ever changed their mind. Debates are about showcasing ideas and then seeing if those ideas stand up to the critiques of your opponent.
Honestly, if a participant ever changed their mind during a debate, I’d think they were a poor representative of that idea. By the time you’re on stage at a formal debate you should have already thoroughly considered your opinion from every angle.
I’m arguing that the principal of debate requires that you have a mind that can be changed. I’m not actually suggesting that one does, necessarily, change their mind over the course of a debate. However, it can be incredibly convincing to show a shift in thinking (taking the audience with you) where you do cede some caveats, but use them to further your argument and make it more convincing.
I listen to intelligence squared, and I wish that debates were formally moderated and scored.
Perhaps sway the audience, but I’ve never seen a debate where the participants ever changed their mind. Debates are about showcasing ideas and then seeing if those ideas stand up to the critiques of your opponent.
Honestly, if a participant ever changed their mind during a debate, I’d think they were a poor representative of that idea. By the time you’re on stage at a formal debate you should have already thoroughly considered your opinion from every angle.
I’m arguing that the principal of debate requires that you have a mind that can be changed. I’m not actually suggesting that one does, necessarily, change their mind over the course of a debate. However, it can be incredibly convincing to show a shift in thinking (taking the audience with you) where you do cede some caveats, but use them to further your argument and make it more convincing.
I listen to intelligence squared, and I wish that debates were formally moderated and scored.