In a debate, we must be able to listen to others and give them space. Do you want to practice it? We have some ideas that could spark a lively exchange of views.
A healthy culture of debate allows us to deal with differences of opinion, develop respect, and get to know new views. Debates about politics, society, or ethics often arise spontaneously, but you can also provoke them by asking challenging questions. It's about convincingly presenting pros and cons arguments, improving argumentative and rhetorical skills, and developing creative ways of thinking.
You'll then find various questions that are ideal for sparking passionate debates.
44 questions for debates with family or friends
Before you start debates, remember to set clear rules and let others have their say. It is an excellent exercise to learn from others, to appear convincing, to develop self-confidence and creativity, and to train your ability to deal with conflict and tolerance.
- Is the universe infinite or finite?
- Was the past better than the present?
- Is time linear or cyclical?
- Is there a heaven and a hell?
- Is truth relative or absolute?
- Is justice an ideal or a reality?
- Is there a set destiny or can we choose our own path?
- Is death the end or a new beginning?
- Should teachers continue to have civil servant status in the future?
- Does life have meaning or is everything coincidence?
- Are we moving forward or backward?
- Are there parallel universes?
- Should advertising for medicines be completely abolished?
- Is world peace possible or will we never achieve it?
- Is there an absolute truth?
- Is human knowledge limitless?
- Do we need psychology as a school subject?
- Will we eventually achieve a just world without poverty?
- Does life have a transcendental meaning or is it exclusively a biological phenomenon?
- Is there a mind without a body?
- Is truth accessible through the mind or does it require intuition and experience?
- Is reality a mental construct or is it independent of us?
- Does human suffering have meaning or is it a random phenomenon of life?
- Is there a higher being or is humanity an accident of evolution?
- Should politicians undergo specific training?
- Are our politicians’ salaries fair?
- Is modern technology a solution to human problems or is it a problem itself?
- Is there consciousness outside the body?
- Does morality have individual rights or does it only aim at the common good?
- Is the future a better place?
- Is science a search for truth or a form of control?
- Are we living in a matrix?
- Should children be banned from using cell phones?
- Does politics serve society?
- Is religion spirituality or manipulation?
- Will humanity ever learn from its mistakes?
- Are there human abilities that no artificial intelligence will ever achieve?
- Will we ever be able to definitively cure depression or other mental health problems?
- Will we be perfect in the future through genetic manipulation?
- Can we achieve immortality and is it actually desirable?
- Is AI a tool for more democracy or does it threaten our freedom?
- Will virtual reality satisfy our desire to travel in the future?
- Should animal testing be completely banned?
- Will we eventually solve the Fermi Paradox and learn whether there is an extraterrestrial intelligence that can sustain highly advanced civilizations for millions of years?
Debates require respect
On social media, we often observe a very aggressive culture of debate in which insults are the order of the day. We have to learn to treat each other with respect again; debates are very enriching and constructive if we allow other opinions and are open to a change of perspective.
Accusations and prejudices are not appropriate in an exchange of opinions. Generalizations and personal attacks should also be avoided. We have to be able to listen to others and give them space. Concrete examples, careful listening, and credible arguments are among the most important tools in a constructive debate. Practice makes perfect!
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