Ethics debate topics

Ethics asks what we owe each other and what is right to do. The topics in this category deal with some of the hardest questions societies face, about life, death, punishment and the limits of what the state may decide for us. People of good will, careful thought and deep conviction reach different answers.

Because these questions are personal, they ask for a particular kind of debate. Argue the issue and not the person. State your reasons plainly, and try to describe the other side's strongest position in a way they would accept before you answer it. Ask what values lie behind a view, since the facts alone rarely decide the matter.

Be aware that someone reading may have lived experience of the subject. Respect does not mean agreeing, and it does not mean avoiding disagreement. It means treating the other person as someone who is trying to do what is right.

If you choose to take part, pick a topic, select a side, and debate it live or by turns. You may argue a position you do not hold yourself.