Post on 17-Dec-2015
transcript
How you are going to implement the motion
The job of the first speaker to outline clearly
The level of depth is at your discretion:Don’t spend too long detailing every little
aspect of the policyBut ensure the pertinent parts of the process
are clearFor most motions it should be relatively
intuitive
Models
This terminology refers to how drastic the change you are proposing isHard being a drastic change to the status quoSoft being a slight change to the status quo
Example: this house supports euthanasia
Hard and Soft Models
Soft – Restricted to incredibly sick people with no hope of a
cure and decent standard of living.
Need consent of multiple doctors and psychologists.
Can only be passive: i.e. denial of food/medicine.
SOFT Line Model
Moderate – Allowed for the terminally ill with very low standard
of living.
Requires the consent of a doctor and psychologist.
MODERATE Line Model
Hard – Available to anyone diagnosed with terminal or
debilitating illness.
Need medical consent.
Doctor assisted or self-administered.
HARD Line Model
Good teams will always go for somewhere between a moderate and a hard line model
WHY? Fairness: the softer the line you take the less
clash there is in the debate because what you are proposing is not that different from the opposition.
Strategy: harder line models facilitate more philosophically consistent cases.
Hard and Soft Models
Get into little groups of 3 (as if you were in a team)
Come up with an appropriate model for:A) This house would legalise all drugs
B) This house would reserve seats for women in ParliamentFor this, consider the different ways the case could
be run.
C)
Practice Exercise
Make teams come up with a broad outline of the arguments they would run based on those models
Look at how ‘soft models’ limit the arguments available
Discussion of the cases (AFF and NEG)…
Extend Exercise
Most debates stem from some deeper clash between principles
Some common principles:Bodily AutonomyEquityFreedom of Expression
Note that the structure of the following slides is also how you can structure these arguments.
First Principles
What is it?Everyone has ownership rights over their own
body. I own my body and have the right to make
decisions in relation to it.Can extend to things like freedom of movement
Proviso: 3rd party harm: until my actions harm others.
Why is it important?I know my body best and can thus make the
best decisionsOther rights like free speech and free
movement are contingent on this right. It is relatively fundamental
Bodily Autonomy
This house would legalise/ban prostitution
This house would legalise marajuana (or any drug)
Debates it could apply to?
What is it?Blanket equality assumes that everyone has the
same starting point in societyEquity is about providing people with a
relatively equal starting point; it is about fairnessThrough affirmative action, or targetted schemes,
or welfare
Why is it important? Rawls: the veil of ignorance – it is only by the
lottery of birth that you were born in the family that you are in.
Given that, everyone is entitled to be brought up to an equivalent starting point.
Equity/Equality Arguments
This house supports affirmative action quotas for Maori in universities
Almost every welfare debate
Debates it applies to?
What is it?Everyone has a right to say what they want,
wear what they want, and so on (it is an extension of the idea of liberty)
You should not be stopped from voicing your opinion by anyone
Why is it important?Marketplace of ideas: everyone has unique and
useful ideas that they bring to society. (More utility basically)
It underpins a fair and equal society and a liberal democracy (Much more explanation can happen here).
Freedom of Expression
This house would ban the burqa Or other debates about religious freedoms
This house would ban/legalise hate speechOr any debate that encompasses the issue of
hate speech
Debates it applies to?
These arguments can all be extended in creative ways to fit different debates.For example: autonomy can extend to
arguments about privacy and the right to regulate your own personal space.
Just make sure you explain your principles clearly and justify why they apply and why they’re important.
Advice
If there is time:Prep – THW allow individuals to sell their
organsIn your spare time:
Think about: This house would ban abortion at all stages of pregnancyI have not covered the specific principles in these
slides: so you will have to dig them up yourself.Some guidance:
Think about what constitutes a living agentWhy and where we should draw the lineThe effect on women
Final Practice: