The Great Debate Series: Ethical Dilemmas
Organize a formal debate on complex ethical, philosophical, or political issues. Participants must research and argue both sides of the topic, regardless of personal opinion.
- Takes
- 1 hr
- Your setup
- 1 hr prep
- Ages
- Ages 12 and up
- Mess
- No mess
- Cost
- Free
- Where
- Indoors
How to do it
- 1Select a complex topic (e.g., AI ethics, universal basic income).
- 2Divide into two teams (Affirmative and Negative). Teams must research and prepare formal arguments (opening statement, rebuttals, closing).
- 3Run the debate using standard parliamentary rules and timings.
- 4Focus on the quality of evidence and reasoning, not volume.
What they're practising
- Critical thinking
- Argument construction
- Tolerance for ambiguity
- Public speaking