History Debate

a debate among scholars, razmnama illustration

although debating in various forms has long history, , can traced philosophical , political debates of ancient greece, such athenian democracy, modern forms of debating , establishment of debating societies occurred during age of enlightenment in 18th century.

debating teams helpful high school students in teaching writing process, in teaching rhetoric.

emergence of debating societies

debate tonight: whether man s wig should dressed honey or mustard! 1795 cartoon satirizing content of debates.

debating societies emerged in london in eighteenth century, , became prominent fixture of national life. origins of these societies not in many cases however, mid-18th century, london fostered active debating society culture. debating topics covered broad spectrum of topics while debating societies allowed participants both genders , social backgrounds, making them excellent example of enlarged public sphere of age of enlightenment. debating societies phenomenon associated simultaneous rise of public sphere, sphere of discussion separate traditional authorities , accessible people acted platform criticism , development of new ideas , philosophy.

many subjects debated in london debating societies of 18th century. cover panegyric on marriage , family life, c. 1780.

john henley, clergyman, founded oratory in 1726 principal purpose of reforming manner in such public presentations should performed. made extensive use of print industry advertise events of oratory, making omnipresent part of london public sphere. henley instrumental in constructing space of debating club: added 2 platforms room in newport district of london allow staging of debates, , structured entrances allow collection of admission. these changes further implemented when henley moved enterprise lincoln s inn fields. public willing pay entertained, , henley exploited increasing commercialization of british society. 1770s, debating societies firmly established in london society.

the year 1785 pivotal: morning chronicle announced on march 27:

the rage publick debate shews in quarters of metropolis. exclusive of oratorical assemblies @ carlisle house, free-mason s hall, forum, spring gardens, cassino, mitre tavern , other polite places of debating rendezvous, hear new schools of eloquence preparing opened in st. giles, clare-market, hockley in hole, whitechapel, rag-fair, duke s place, billingsgate, , of borough.

in 1780, 35 differently named societies advertised , hosted debates anywhere between 650 , 1200 people. question debate introduced president or moderator proceeded regulate discussion. speakers given set amounts of time argue point of view, and, @ end of debate, vote taken determine decision or adjourn question further debate. speakers not permitted slander or insult other speakers, or diverge topic @ hand, again illustrating value placed on politeness late 18th century debaters.

student debating societies

a debate @ cambridge union society (c. 1887).

princeton university in future united states home number of short-lived student debating societies throughout mid-1700s, , influential american whig society co-founded in 1769 future revolutionary james madison. first of post-revolutionary debating societies, dialectic , philanthropic societies, formed @ university of north carolina @ chapel hill in 1795 , still active.

the first student debating society in great britain st andrews debating society, formed in 1794 literary society. cambridge union society founded in 1815, , claims oldest continually operating debating society in world. claim arguably valid because princeton s societies had been shut down during american revolutionary war, while unc societies operations briefly suspended during american civil war.

over next few decades, similar societies emerged @ several other prominent universities. examples include oxford union, yale political union , conférence olivaint.