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Introduction to Lincoln
Douglas Debate
Myers Park Tutorial
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Different types of debate: what
suits you?
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Different types of resolution: Fact, Value, Policy
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Resolved: Today is Monday.
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Resolved: US is a more important subject than world history.
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Resolved: NC should require 2 years of history to graduate.
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Formats differ: debate alone or with a partner?
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Topics differ: a new topic(s) every tournament, a new topic
every month, every two months, one topic for the entire year?
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All research topic areas and develop speaking skills.
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Format: Lincoln Douglas
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Debates issues of value
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Debate alone
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Topics last for two months
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Novice topic for September/October will be different
starting in 2013-2014.
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Speech order and side are decided before the debate
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4 minutes preparation time during the debate for each
person.
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Format
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6 minute affirmative constructive-this speech BUILDS your initial
case.
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3 minutes of CROSS EXAMINATION - the negative gets to ask
questions, the affirmative only answers.
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7 minute negative constructive
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3 minutes of CROSS EXAMINATION – the affirmative gets to ask
questions, the negative only answers.
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4 minute affirmative rebuttal- answers arguments
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6 minute negative rebuttal
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3 minute affirmative rebuttal
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Topics September/October 2013
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varsity/open divisions will use the following
topic:
Resolved: In a democracy, voting ought to be
compulsory.
 Novice
divisions will use the following topic:
Resolved: Civil disobedience in a democracy is
morally justified.
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Case Structure
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Introductory remarks…can be a quote, statement, or simply a
statement of the topic alone. Definitions to understand what
the topic means.
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Value - Each debater will present a “framework’ for the
debate. A LENS to view the arguments presented. If this is
value debate, what value will be defended? How will you tell
when that value has been achieved?
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Criteria – tells the judge the concrete measure of the value
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Contentions – The reasons why the judge should vote for you,
why you achieve the value presented
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An example
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Justice – a value basic to American democracy and our
judicial system. How do tell when justice has been achieved?
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Equal rights, human rights
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Equality of opportunity
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Due process
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Democracy
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Definitions: Civil Disobedience
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Civil Disobedience- a public, nonviolent, conscientious yet
political act contrary to law usually done with the aim of
bringing about a change in the law or policies of the
government. Bedau, H.A., “On Civil Disobedience”, Journal
of Philosophy, vol. 58 (1961), pp. 653-661.
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Civil disobedience is a form of protest in which individuals
purposefully and deliberately violate a law.
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Protest is nonviolent and protestors are willing to accept
legal penalties and punishment for their actions.
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Democracy
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Democracy – “Literally, the term means power of the people
(combining the Greek words demos, meaning “the people”,
and kratien, meaning “to rule”). It is usually used to describe
a political system where the legitimacy of exercising power
stems from the consent of the people.” Joan Spero & Jeffrey
Hart, “Democracy”, The Politics of International Economic
Relations, online
<http://www.indiana.edu/~ipe/glossary.html.
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Democracy –” Democracy 1. a way of governing a country in
which the people elect representatives to form a government
on their behalf, 2. a country with such a government, 3. the
idea that everyone in a country has equal rights.” A Glossary
of Parliamentary Words Online.
<http://www.aph.gov.au/find/glossary.htm>
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Moral Justification
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George P. Fletcher, prof Law, Columbia, “The Right & the
Reasonable”, Harvard Law Review, vol. 98, 1985, p. 954-955.
“Claims of justification direct our attention to the propriety of
the act in the abstract: claims of excuse, to the
blameworthiness of the actor in the concrete situation.”
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Joshua Dressler, prof. Law, Wayne State Univ, “New Thoughts
About the Concept of Justification in the Criminal Law”,UCLA
Law Review, vol. 32, 1984, p. 98.
“Specifically, I have argued that conduct is, or ought to be,
justified, without consideration of an actor’s character,
whenever the conduct is morally good or tolerable, whether
deontologically or teleologically based.”
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How to justify an act
1.
What is right/moral depends on the consequences which
result from the action
CONSEQUENTIALIST MORAL REASONING
-locates morality in the result
-Bentham & JSM
2. Reasons from the intrinsic quality of the act itself
CATEGORICAL MORAL REASONING
-locates morality in certain absolutes
-Kant & Rawls
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Where to find evidence
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Google scholar
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Books – authors today
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Prepared materials
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http://www.stlukesct.org/ftpimages/96/download/Debate%
20jimmenick.pdf
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Today’s packet to start
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Demonstration debate