The Community on Friday

Debates may well be seen as a form of Socratic learning whereby a motion is in place and two sides argue for or against that motion. To be successful at debating, one needs to understand the motion clearly, and be able to analyse and evaluate it properly before presenting the arguments to the other side as well as the general audience. Debating forces you, the debater, to also be able to listen to your critics and respond accordingly when given the chance to do so. It tests your patience as well as your temperament, whereby one moment of “losing your cool” can send you down a slippery slope of losing the argument entirely.