Affirmative case- a set of arguments presented in the affirmative constructive speech which addresses each of the stock issues required to prove the validity of the resolution
Application of criteria- on the affirmative, it is the stock issue demonstrating that the object of evaluation in a resolution enhances or is consistent with the value used as the standard of judgement; on the negative, it involves demonstrating that the object of evaluation does not enhance or is not consistent with the value used as the standard of judgement
A priori- some truth arrived at by reasoning from self-evident propositions; something which is presumed to be true or valid on its face
Argument- a claim made by a debater to a judge which provides a reason for acting or believing (acting = voting for you; believing = thinking your position is correct)
Autonomy- This is a fundamental assumption of Western, liberal philosophy that holds that human beings are by nature free to pursue their own interest because (a) they are capable of choosing how they shall act, and (b) posses the capacity to reason. Consequently, they are responsible for their actions. Since a responsible person arrives at moral decisions that he expresses to himself in the forms of imperatives, we may say he gives laws to himself or is self-legislating or self-determining. Communitarianism philosophers deny this assumption.
Burden of proof- a rule indicating that the affirmative has the responsibility to establish the validity of the claim made by the resolution; the resolution is presumed invalid until the affirmative establishes otherwise
Burden of rebuttal- the responsibility of both affirmative and negative debaters to rebuild their initial arguments in light of their opponent's refutation
Burden of refutation- a rule establishing that the negative has the responsibility to prove that the arguments established in the affirmative case are inaccurate or invalid
Categorical imperative- Immanuel Kant's standard of morality which states that a decision is morally just if it can be established as a universal law indicating the way people should act in all similar circumstances
Clash- The conflict with a specific argument made by your opponent. In essence, it is overthrowing your opponent's evidence or reasoning by demonstrating that it is invalid, erroneous, or irrelevant.
Communitarianism- a world view holding that the essential nature of human beings cannot be realized individually but must be developed in the context of social interactions
Constructive speeches- the speeches in which both affirmative debaters establish their reasons for accepting or rejecting the resolution; the first two speeches in the debate
Contentions- the statements of main ideas in a speech; the major arguments advanced by both affirmative and negative debaters
Core value- phrase used by Edward Steele and Charles Redding to indicate a value that is regarded by a society as fundamentally important because it lies at the center of that society's beliefs and describes the essence of the society
Criterion- a standard which determines whether the object of evaluation is consistent with or enhances the value used as a standard of judgement; a criterion is a "rule of the game" in situations in which the social goal established by the value is met
Criteria- the plural of "criterion" indicating more than one standard
Cross exam- the questioning of your opponent and the answering of questions put to you by your opponent. The Lincoln-Douglas format provides opportunities to question your opponents about their arguments after they present those arguments in either the affirmative or negative constructive speech.
Crystallizing arguments- occurs in rebuttal speeches; reestablishing in a few statements the central themes of your arguments in; it involves three steps: (1) a summary of the theme of your arguments; (2) a summary of the opponent's responses; (3) a clear statement of why your initial position is superior to the opponent's attack
Deontology- the theory or study of moral obligations. It is the Kantian notion that people ought to do things because they are right rather than because the effects will be good or desirable.
Distributive justice- John Rawls' standard of a just society which states that a just society must ensure that all of its members begin on equal footing; this means that society should allocate benefits to its members such that the least advantaged among them receives the greatest benefits
Duties of the speakers- the tasks necessary to be completed in each speech of the debate
Duty- a moral obligation. Duty is determined by the ideology or world view of the philosopher. The duty of individuals is defined by different ideologies in ways that are markedly different.
Empirical- that which can be experienced through the senses
Empiricism- the doctrine that all knowledge is derived from experience through the senses
Equality- A time when all people are treated the same. There is two different types of Equality, Equality of Opportunity and Equality of Condition. Equality of Opportunity gives all people the same chances of achievement (start on the same level). Equality of Condition is a state where everything is shared (end on the same level).
Ethics- a theory or system of moral values. One's theory of ethics is determined by one's world view or ideology.
Evaluative term- the word or words in the resolution which make a judgement about some concept, idea, or practice (object(s) of evaluation)
Evidence- a fact or body of facts on which a belief or judgement is based. The means by which you establish credibility for your arguments.
Extrinsic- that which is external to all things, its essential nature or character. You can justify a value by showing that the effects produced by the value- rather than the value itself- are good.
Flow chart- a method for taking notes in debate.
Freedom- The absence of government restraint on our lives. Freedom allows individuals to live their life as they see necessary. Carefully define freedom when using it.
Individualism- a world view holding that the individual possesses inherent, natural rights which may not be violated in a just society; it is accompanied by the belief that reliance on individual decisions, initiative, and actions produces the best society.
Inextricably- incapable of being disentangled or considered separately. So involved that extrication is impossible.
Inherent- in debate, it speaks to the property of being an essential ingredient of a concept or object; that characteristic which is an inseparable part of that in which it inheres.
Instrumental values- phrase used by Milton Rokeach to indicate those values which are secondary because they are merely the means by which more fundamental values (terminal or core values) are realized
Intrinsic- the notion that a concept or value is worthwhile in and of itself, independent of what it may produce as an effect
Justice- an ideologically derived value; a concept of what is right or fair; it is derived from a specific philosophy or world view; its specific content is therefore dependent on the ideology espoused by the philosophy or world view
Justification- one way of stating your argumetns or contentions. You could say, "I have three arguments for accepting the resolution"; "I offer three contentisons in support of the resolution"; "I offer three justifications for the resolution."
Legitimacy- an ideologically derived value; a concpt indication what is reasonable, logically correct, or justified, all philosophies define what is legitimate based on their world view
Logic- clear thinking; arriving at a conclusion based on data (evidence) and the interpretation of data
Morality- an ideologically derived value which establishes a doctrine of moral duties and ethics. It implies moral (virtuous) conduct, and a moral code which defines what it means to be virtuous. It is defined by the ideology and world view of a person.
Natural law- a rule of conduct supposed to be inherent in human nature and discoverable by reason alone. There are several natural law theories which are at great variance in their characterization of what the term means. Plato first articulated this point of view. Jefferson and Locke developed the concept in completely different ways.
Negative case- a set of arguments presented in the negative constructive speech which presents the negative debater's reasons for rejecting the resolution; these arguments should be adapted and applied to the affirmative case
Object of evaluation- the concept, idea, or practice being evaluated in a proposition of value
Obligation- same as "moral duty"
Observation- a statement made at the beginning of any speech which takes a position with regard to the totality of one's own or one's opponent's analysis
Philosophy- a theory or logical analysis of the principles underlying conduct, thought, knowledge, and the nature of the world; it answers such questions as what is nature of human beings, truth, and reality
Presumption- a rule which tells the judge what attitude to hold with regard to the resolution at the beginning of the debate; in LD debate, it says that the judge should withhold any favorable judgement on the accuracy of the resolution until the affirmative has established a prima facie case
Prima facie case- a set of arguments sufficient to lead a reasonable person to believe that the resolution is valid; it involves meeting the "stock issues" for the type of resolution being debated
Proposition- a simple, declarative statement which affirms or denies the existence of something, the occurrence of something, or the relationship between two or more things
Proposition of policy- a simple, declarative statement which calls for or opposes action
Proposition of value- a simple, declarative statement which passes judgement on some concept, idea, or practice, or which compares the worth of two or more concepts, ideas, or practices
Quality of Life- A value that is concerned about the quality of living. It is used when people want to say that affirming/negating improves the quality of one's life.
Refutation- attacking or overthrowing claims made by your opponent;
Rebuttal- to rebuild an initial claim by indicating how it continues to stand after consideration is given to your opponent's attack; it can involve the introduction of new and additional reasoning or evidence in response to your opponent's attack
Rebuttal speeches- the speeches in which debaters rebuild their initial arguments established in the constructive speeches; the last three speeches of the debate
Resolution- a simple, declarative statement which states the proposition to be decided in the debate
Safety- This a condition of being secure. Safety is assured when one is free from danger. Use it to make a connection from your case to resolution saying your side is safest.
Sanctity of Life- The value that states that life is sacred. Other values cannot be enjoyed if we do not value life first. Anything that harms life, then becomes immoral/unjustified.
Situation ethics- a system of ethics according to which moral rules are not viewed as absolutes, but grow out of the requirements of a specific situation; many LD debate resolutions articulate value judgements as absolutes—the philosophy of situation ethics provides a negative strategy for denying the validity of an absolute value claim made by a resolution
Social Contract- the notion found in Western, liberal, democratic philosophy which states that society was formed by a contract or agreement made by individuals granting to society certain limited powers to protect the basic rights of individuals; individuals give up some rights in order to ensure protection of their most fundamental rights; the Social Contract assumes that human beings are created with inalienable rights
Social order- phrase sometimes used by debaters as a means of prioritizing values by claiming that the way a society is organized suggests the priorities which it gives certain values; there is no one social order
Status quo- existing state of things. In policy debate, it fixes presumption. The existing state of affairs is presumed to be acceptable until good and sufficient reason can be given for changing it.
Stock issues- the critical elements inherent in the resolution which the affirmative must establish in order to prove the validity of the resolution; the affirmative must establish every element to prevail; the stock issues may be easily recognized since they involve the questions the answers to which directly prove or disprove the resolution
Teleology- the theory that a person ought to do something because of the effects that action will provide. It is an ethical value which is directly antithetical to deontology. It says that ethical values are of value when they produce desirable ends. The explanation of values in terms of their utility, ends, or purposes.
Terminal values- phrase advanced by Milton Rokeach to indicate those values which are so fundamental that they express the desirable goals or ends of society
Topic- a word used casually to refer to the resolution
Utilitarianism- the doctrine developed by Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill, that the purpose of all action should be to bring about the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people
Value- a social principle so highly prized by an individual, group, or society that it becomes a goal to pursued
World view- a comprehensive conception of the world and of human life; it addresses and answers fundamental questions such as what is the nature of humanity, truth, and the nature of the world and what is the relationship between these elements; all philosophies express a world view.
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