Debate

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Debate is a process that involves formal discourse, discussion, and oral addresses on a particular topic or collection of topics, often with a moderator and an audience. In a debate, arguments are put forward for common opposing viewpoints. Debates have historically occurred in public meetings, academic institutions, debate halls, coffeehouses, competitions, and legislative assemblies.^[1] Debates have also been conducted for educational and recreational purposes,^[2] usually associated with educational establishments and debating societies.^[3] These debates emphasized logical consistency, factual accuracy, and emotional appeal to an audience.^[4][5] Modern forms of competitive debate also include rules for participants to discuss and decide upon the framework of the debates (how the debate will be judged).^[5]

The term "debate" may also be applied to a more continuous, inclusive and less formalised process through which issues are explored and resolved across a range of agencies and among the general public: for example the European Commission in 2021 published a Green Paper on Ageing intended to generate such a debate on "policies to address the challenges and opportunities of ageing" in forthcoming years,^[6] and Pope Francis refers to "the need for forthright and honest debate" on society and the environment in his 2015 encyclical letter Laudato si'.^[7]