Why do we Debate? | Aalok Thakkar | TEDxIIESTShibpur

here’s a story a story of six blind men

here’s a story a story of six blind men and the elephant there were six blind

and the elephant there were six blind

and the elephant there were six blind men of understand to learning much

men of understand to learning much

men of understand to learning much inclined who wanted to see the elephant

inclined who wanted to see the elephant

inclined who wanted to see the elephant though all of them were blind that each

though all of them were blind that each

though all of them were blind that each by observation might satisfy their mind

by observation might satisfy their mind

by observation might satisfy their mind so the first approach the elephant and

so the first approach the elephant and

so the first approach the elephant and he touched the elephant’s belly and

he touched the elephant’s belly and

he touched the elephant’s belly and pronounced the elephant is like a wall

pronounced the elephant is like a wall

pronounced the elephant is like a wall the second touch the tusks and said I

the second touch the tusks and said I

the second touch the tusks and said I feel something very round and smooth and

feel something very round and smooth and

feel something very round and smooth and sharp to me this mighty clear the

sharp to me this mighty clear the

sharp to me this mighty clear the elephant is very like a spear the third

elephant is very like a spear the third

elephant is very like a spear the third approach the elephant and took the trunk

approach the elephant and took the trunk

approach the elephant and took the trunk in his hands and said the elephant is

in his hands and said the elephant is

in his hands and said the elephant is like a snake the fourth approached the

like a snake the fourth approached the

like a snake the fourth approached the elephant took by the leg and said the

elephant took by the leg and said the

elephant took by the leg and said the elephant is just like a bark of the tree

elephant is just like a bark of the tree

elephant is just like a bark of the tree the first approach the elephant touch

the first approach the elephant touch

the first approach the elephant touch the fan like ears of the elephant and

the fan like ears of the elephant and

the fan like ears of the elephant and said of course the elephant is like a

said of course the elephant is like a

said of course the elephant is like a hand fan and the third and the sixth one

hand fan and the third and the sixth one

hand fan and the third and the sixth one touched the tail and said it’s like a

touched the tail and said it’s like a

touched the tail and said it’s like a rope and so these six wise men off in

rope and so these six wise men off in

rope and so these six wise men off in the Sun they debated loud and long each

the Sun they debated loud and long each

the Sun they debated loud and long each in the opinions stiff and strong all of

in the opinions stiff and strong all of

in the opinions stiff and strong all of them were right and yet all of them were

them were right and yet all of them were

them were right and yet all of them were wrong all of them were right and yet all

wrong all of them were right and yet all

wrong all of them were right and yet all of them were wrong and still they

of them were wrong and still they

of them were wrong and still they debated which makes me ask really why do

debated which makes me ask really why do

debated which makes me ask really why do we debate what is the purpose of this

we debate what is the purpose of this

we debate what is the purpose of this entire activity this entire endeavor

entire activity this entire endeavor

entire activity this entire endeavor something that we all can agree to is

something that we all can agree to is

something that we all can agree to is that we are surrounded by debates we are

that we are surrounded by debates we are

that we are surrounded by debates we are surrounded by arguments we are

surrounded by arguments we are

surrounded by arguments we are surrounded by opinions may it be debates

surrounded by opinions may it be debates

surrounded by opinions may it be debates in the parliament may they be religious

in the parliament may they be religious

in the parliament may they be religious debates

debates

debates may they be debates over the dinner

may they be debates over the dinner

may they be debates over the dinner table with our own family or may they be

table with our own family or may they be

table with our own family or may they be debates which are intellectual in the

debates which are intellectual in the

debates which are intellectual in the Kedah make that happened colleges and

Kedah make that happened colleges and

Kedah make that happened colleges and schools or finally our favourite news

schools or finally our favourite news

schools or finally our favourite news are debates we are surrounded by debates

are debates we are surrounded by debates

are debates we are surrounded by debates and you must ask why do we debate so it

and you must ask why do we debate so it

and you must ask why do we debate so it seems as of now that the purpose of

seems as of now that the purpose of

seems as of now that the purpose of debating could be argument to argue

debating could be argument to argue

debating could be argument to argue could be entertainment to it intend to

could be entertainment to it intend to

could be entertainment to it intend to conflict whatever the other person is

conflict whatever the other person is

conflict whatever the other person is saying to convince the audience or just

saying to convince the audience or just

saying to convince the audience or just to dominate however these are the

to dominate however these are the

to dominate however these are the reasons for debating it does not make

reasons for debating it does not make

reasons for debating it does not make much sense to put the best minds in the

much sense to put the best minds in the

much sense to put the best minds in the country our elected politicians our

country our elected politicians our

country our elected politicians our religious leaders our smartest

religious leaders our smartest

religious leaders our smartest individual scientists reformers into

individual scientists reformers into

individual scientists reformers into activities like debating because in some

activities like debating because in some

activities like debating because in some way they just use this we don’t want

way they just use this we don’t want

way they just use this we don’t want them for entertainment we want them for

them for entertainment we want them for

them for entertainment we want them for something which is productive which

something which is productive which

something which is productive which causes welfare which has some meaning

causes welfare which has some meaning

causes welfare which has some meaning and purpose to it which is constructive

and purpose to it which is constructive

and purpose to it which is constructive for the society so the question again is

for the society so the question again is

for the society so the question again is what is debating all about is it again

what is debating all about is it again

what is debating all about is it again about the argument the conflict the

about the argument the conflict the

about the argument the conflict the dominance or is it about some

dominance or is it about some

dominance or is it about some constructive endeavor for that answer I

constructive endeavor for that answer I

constructive endeavor for that answer I look back to the six blind men who

look back to the six blind men who

look back to the six blind men who wanted to see the elephant I look at

wanted to see the elephant I look at

wanted to see the elephant I look at religion science philosophy debates

religion science philosophy debates

religion science philosophy debates regardless of their nature political

regardless of their nature political

regardless of their nature political academic what do we see in common the

academic what do we see in common the

academic what do we see in common the six blind men want to see the elephant

six blind men want to see the elephant

six blind men want to see the elephant they seek some truth in essence religion

they seek some truth in essence religion

they seek some truth in essence religion philosophy science in some way seek

philosophy science in some way seek

philosophy science in some way seek truth all sorts of debates want to come

truth all sorts of debates want to come

truth all sorts of debates want to come up to conclusion which is true in some

up to conclusion which is true in some

up to conclusion which is true in some sense so certainly finding truth seeking

sense so certainly finding truth seeking

sense so certainly finding truth seeking truth is something that is common among

truth is something that is common among

truth is something that is common among all however something more fundamental

all however something more fundamental

all however something more fundamental is calm all of them are blind all of

is calm all of them are blind all of

is calm all of them are blind all of them science religion philosophy all

them science religion philosophy all

them science religion philosophy all sorts of debates all of us are limited

sorts of debates all of us are limited

sorts of debates all of us are limited by our perception making us blind in

by our perception making us blind in

by our perception making us blind in some way or the other if we want to see

some way or the other if we want to see

some way or the other if we want to see an object in its absolute sense we must

an object in its absolute sense we must

an object in its absolute sense we must realize that it has many faces sadly for

realize that it has many faces sadly for

realize that it has many faces sadly for us truth in any form as many faces and

us truth in any form as many faces and

us truth in any form as many faces and all what we see is just one face and

all what we see is just one face and

all what we see is just one face and assume it to be the absolute truth we

assume it to be the absolute truth we

assume it to be the absolute truth we touch the elephant

touch the elephant

touch the elephant feel its belly claim it to be like the

feel its belly claim it to be like the

feel its belly claim it to be like the wall and declare that the elephant is

wall and declare that the elephant is

wall and declare that the elephant is like a wall if a bill is passed in the

like a wall if a bill is passed in the

like a wall if a bill is passed in the parliament to some of us it may seem

parliament to some of us it may seem

parliament to some of us it may seem only as a social necessity we might as

only as a social necessity we might as

only as a social necessity we might as well debate that technology is a threat

well debate that technology is a threat

well debate that technology is a threat to traditions but dear friends we all

to traditions but dear friends we all

to traditions but dear friends we all know that at the end of the day elephant

know that at the end of the day elephant

know that at the end of the day elephant is not a wall it is also its trunk also

is not a wall it is also its trunk also

is not a wall it is also its trunk also its dusk

its dusk

its dusk also its tail that any bill ever passed

also its tail that any bill ever passed

also its tail that any bill ever passed in any Parliament of the world was also

in any Parliament of the world was also

in any Parliament of the world was also a social affair economic affair

a social affair economic affair

a social affair economic affair political affair and much more that

political affair and much more that

political affair and much more that traditions in their own cells are as old

traditions in their own cells are as old

traditions in their own cells are as old as any other human endeavor and former

as any other human endeavor and former

as any other human endeavor and former tradition of their own so what should we

tradition of their own so what should we

tradition of their own so what should we do how do we seek the truth how do we

do how do we seek the truth how do we

do how do we seek the truth how do we understand this object under observation

understand this object under observation

understand this object under observation first thing that we can do is to

first thing that we can do is to

first thing that we can do is to remember that our perceptions are

remember that our perceptions are

remember that our perceptions are limited we know that there is no way to

limited we know that there is no way to

limited we know that there is no way to see it completely there is no way to

see it completely there is no way to

see it completely there is no way to completely understand a topic because we

completely understand a topic because we

completely understand a topic because we ourselves are limited what we can do is

ourselves are limited what we can do is

ourselves are limited what we can do is listen listen not treadle asleep but

listen listen not treadle asleep but

listen listen not treadle asleep but skeptically and rationally listen by

skeptically and rationally listen by

skeptically and rationally listen by judging against the yardstick of logic

judging against the yardstick of logic

judging against the yardstick of logic and reasoning listen because without

and reasoning listen because without

and reasoning listen because without listening to the five other lineman we

listening to the five other lineman we

listening to the five other lineman we will never be able to tell if the

will never be able to tell if the

will never be able to tell if the elephant has a tail if it is a tusk or

elephant has a tail if it is a tusk or

elephant has a tail if it is a tusk or the trunk therefore this process of

the trunk therefore this process of

the trunk therefore this process of critical listening becomes debating in a

critical listening becomes debating in a

critical listening becomes debating in a debate as we know it today we have a

debate as we know it today we have a

debate as we know it today we have a motion two parties taking this stance

motion two parties taking this stance

motion two parties taking this stance and trying the best to convince the

and trying the best to convince the

and trying the best to convince the audience what is correct the idea is not

audience what is correct the idea is not

audience what is correct the idea is not to convince the audience the idea is to

to convince the audience the idea is to

to convince the audience the idea is to explain to them what the two sides of

explain to them what the two sides of

explain to them what the two sides of the argument are in in a courtroom if we

the argument are in in a courtroom if we

the argument are in in a courtroom if we have a quote from debate for example two

have a quote from debate for example two

have a quote from debate for example two lawyers will be taking stances certainly

lawyers will be taking stances certainly

lawyers will be taking stances certainly it is their job to defend their clients

it is their job to defend their clients

it is their job to defend their clients but whom are they arguing debating for

but whom are they arguing debating for

but whom are they arguing debating for it’s for the judge so that the church

it’s for the judge so that the church

it’s for the judge so that the church can look into their arguments and try to

can look into their arguments and try to

can look into their arguments and try to figure out what the reality is

figure out what the reality is

figure out what the reality is so at looking at

so at looking at

so at looking at that wall that pillar like tree like leg

that wall that pillar like tree like leg

that wall that pillar like tree like leg that trunk that tusk that rope the judge

that trunk that tusk that rope the judge

that trunk that tusk that rope the judge can see you back a picture which looks a

can see you back a picture which looks a

can see you back a picture which looks a bit like the elephant

bit like the elephant

bit like the elephant the idea is to know that you cannot

the idea is to know that you cannot

the idea is to know that you cannot reach the truth and yet make an attempt

reach the truth and yet make an attempt

reach the truth and yet make an attempt to do it that is what I call debating

to do it that is what I call debating

to do it that is what I call debating debating is this process of exploring

debating is this process of exploring

debating is this process of exploring the two sides of argument and of

the two sides of argument and of

the two sides of argument and of critical listening however there is one

critical listening however there is one

critical listening however there is one problem today debating is no more

problem today debating is no more

problem today debating is no more followed in this fashion so how can we

followed in this fashion so how can we

followed in this fashion so how can we simply make sure that our debates go

simply make sure that our debates go

simply make sure that our debates go more constructive here I have three

more constructive here I have three

more constructive here I have three simple methods which all of us can adopt

simple methods which all of us can adopt

simple methods which all of us can adopt and they are the first one is to cut the

and they are the first one is to cut the

and they are the first one is to cut the crap now my crap I mean things which go

crap now my crap I mean things which go

crap now my crap I mean things which go against the essence of debating things

against the essence of debating things

against the essence of debating things such as what we see in today’s debate is

such as what we see in today’s debate is

such as what we see in today’s debate is the importance given to language

the importance given to language

the importance given to language importance given to proper grammar

importance given to proper grammar

importance given to proper grammar importance given to exquisite vocabulary

importance given to exquisite vocabulary

importance given to exquisite vocabulary we have now created debating as a

we have now created debating as a

we have now created debating as a platform for public speaking there only

platform for public speaking there only

platform for public speaking there only someone who is very confident and very

someone who is very confident and very

someone who is very confident and very comfortable with language and expression

comfortable with language and expression

comfortable with language and expression can come up and speak but if you look at

can come up and speak but if you look at

can come up and speak but if you look at the essence of debating exploring the

the essence of debating exploring the

the essence of debating exploring the truths trying to find out how the

truths trying to find out how the

truths trying to find out how the elephant looks like there is no mention

elephant looks like there is no mention

elephant looks like there is no mention of language this goes against the

of language this goes against the

of language this goes against the essence of it and that is what has made

essence of it and that is what has made

essence of it and that is what has made our debating less fruitful another level

our debating less fruitful another level

our debating less fruitful another level of crap as I would like to call it can

of crap as I would like to call it can

of crap as I would like to call it can be our personal bias argument by

be our personal bias argument by

be our personal bias argument by Authority saying that this certain Nobel

Authority saying that this certain Nobel

Authority saying that this certain Nobel Prize Lord believes in God therefore God

Prize Lord believes in God therefore God

Prize Lord believes in God therefore God must exist or this certain Nobel Prize

must exist or this certain Nobel Prize

must exist or this certain Nobel Prize laureate does not believe in God

laureate does not believe in God

laureate does not believe in God therefore God does not exist you see

therefore God does not exist you see

therefore God does not exist you see that’s not a rational argument that’s

that’s not a rational argument that’s

that’s not a rational argument that’s not judging by the yardstick

not judging by the yardstick

not judging by the yardstick that’s not sceptical enough and the

that’s not sceptical enough and the

that’s not sceptical enough and the third level of crap is intentional

third level of crap is intentional

third level of crap is intentional misrepresentation intentional

misrepresentation intentional

misrepresentation intentional misunderstanding creating such instant

misunderstanding creating such instant

misunderstanding creating such instant misunderstandings in order to just

misunderstandings in order to just

misunderstandings in order to just divert the flow of the debate so that

divert the flow of the debate so that

divert the flow of the debate so that people can see

people can see

people can see not the truth but your truth these are

not the truth but your truth these are

not the truth but your truth these are the things which we if we leave out from

the things which we if we leave out from

the things which we if we leave out from our debates if we cut this scrap we can

our debates if we cut this scrap we can

our debates if we cut this scrap we can make them more constructive so step

make them more constructive so step

make them more constructive so step number one cut the crap

number one cut the crap

number one cut the crap step number two is to identify what sort

step number two is to identify what sort

step number two is to identify what sort of a debate is it so Aristotle in his

of a debate is it so Aristotle in his

of a debate is it so Aristotle in his book the rhetoric says that any sort of

book the rhetoric says that any sort of

book the rhetoric says that any sort of a debate topic can be classified into

a debate topic can be classified into

a debate topic can be classified into one of these three

one of these three

one of these three the first one is blame the second one is

the first one is blame the second one is

the first one is blame the second one is choice second one is values and the

choice second one is values and the

choice second one is values and the third one is choice the first one the

third one is choice the first one the

third one is choice the first one the first section blame deals with actions

first section blame deals with actions

first section blame deals with actions which have already happened consequence

which have already happened consequence

which have already happened consequence which is out there and we would like to

which is out there and we would like to

which is out there and we would like to identify what is responsible for this

identify what is responsible for this

identify what is responsible for this action what is this one what has caused

action what is this one what has caused

action what is this one what has caused it such debates happen in our courtrooms

it such debates happen in our courtrooms

it such debates happen in our courtrooms very own right and if I who is the

very own right and if I who is the

very own right and if I who is the criminal who will be accused who is

criminal who will be accused who is

criminal who will be accused who is guilty of the crime the second one is

guilty of the crime the second one is

guilty of the crime the second one is values where you debate and argue human

values where you debate and argue human

values where you debate and argue human rights responsibilities attics morals

rights responsibilities attics morals

rights responsibilities attics morals what ought to be and the final one

what ought to be and the final one

what ought to be and the final one choice you try to make decisions for the

choice you try to make decisions for the

choice you try to make decisions for the future you discuss actions and the

future you discuss actions and the

future you discuss actions and the consequences now of course with these

consequences now of course with these

consequences now of course with these three types of topics three natural

three types of topics three natural

three types of topics three natural tenses follow for blame we have the past

tenses follow for blame we have the past

tenses follow for blame we have the past tense for values we have the present

tense for values we have the present

tense for values we have the present tense and for choice we have the future

tense and for choice we have the future

tense and for choice we have the future and so for example if this question is

and so for example if this question is

and so for example if this question is mr. XYZ helped her wife helped his wife

mr. XYZ helped her wife helped his wife

mr. XYZ helped her wife helped his wife commit euthanasia we see that most of

commit euthanasia we see that most of

commit euthanasia we see that most of the arguments in this process will be in

the arguments in this process will be in

the arguments in this process will be in past tense almost all sentences spoken

past tense almost all sentences spoken

past tense almost all sentences spoken in favor or against would be in the past

in favor or against would be in the past

in favor or against would be in the past tense if the motion was something like

tense if the motion was something like

tense if the motion was something like euthanasia is a human right we would be

euthanasia is a human right we would be

euthanasia is a human right we would be having sentences being spoken in the

having sentences being spoken in the

having sentences being spoken in the present tense and if it was something

present tense and if it was something

present tense and if it was something like euthanasia should be made legal in

like euthanasia should be made legal in

like euthanasia should be made legal in India it would again be in future tense

India it would again be in future tense

India it would again be in future tense so of course the topic besides the tins

so of course the topic besides the tins

so of course the topic besides the tins however the converse is also true and it

however the converse is also true and it

however the converse is also true and it is very surprising if one person notices

is very surprising if one person notices

is very surprising if one person notices their own style of speaking and the

their own style of speaking and the

their own style of speaking and the tense in which they speak they will be

tense in which they speak they will be

tense in which they speak they will be able to see the correlation between the

able to see the correlation between the

able to see the correlation between the topic and the tense so if one has a

topic and the tense so if one has a

topic and the tense so if one has a natural habit to speak in the past tense

natural habit to speak in the past tense

natural habit to speak in the past tense most conversations will end not being a

most conversations will end not being a

most conversations will end not being a blame game

blame game

blame game you want to throw the blame at someone

you want to throw the blame at someone

you want to throw the blame at someone else now blame games do not help in any

else now blame games do not help in any

else now blame games do not help in any constructive output I’m not saying the

constructive output I’m not saying the

constructive output I’m not saying the codes are useless but but they do not

codes are useless but but they do not

codes are useless but but they do not create something of value to a society

create something of value to a society

create something of value to a society in the sense that we’d not get a end

in the sense that we’d not get a end

in the sense that we’d not get a end result what we would want is to have

result what we would want is to have

result what we would want is to have debates that talk about choices that we

debates that talk about choices that we

debates that talk about choices that we make and the consequences so in order to

make and the consequences so in order to

make and the consequences so in order to have a fruitful debate to move on from a

have a fruitful debate to move on from a

have a fruitful debate to move on from a blame game to understanding the problem

blame game to understanding the problem

blame game to understanding the problem at hand and how to solve it what we need

at hand and how to solve it what we need

at hand and how to solve it what we need to do is change simply change the tense

to do is change simply change the tense

to do is change simply change the tense in which we speak and a third thing is

in which we speak and a third thing is

in which we speak and a third thing is to never forget that the elephant is not

to never forget that the elephant is not

to never forget that the elephant is not the wall is that truth has many faces

the wall is that truth has many faces

the wall is that truth has many faces and what we see is just a shadow on the

and what we see is just a shadow on the

and what we see is just a shadow on the wall in order to understand the elephant

wall in order to understand the elephant

wall in order to understand the elephant in its wholesome perspective what we

in its wholesome perspective what we

in its wholesome perspective what we need to do is debating but also to

need to do is debating but also to

need to do is debating but also to remember that there are many other faces

remember that there are many other faces

remember that there are many other faces to it that we are blind at the end of

to it that we are blind at the end of

to it that we are blind at the end of the day I would like to end with a quote

the day I would like to end with a quote

the day I would like to end with a quote by David putnik with an infinite myths

by David putnik with an infinite myths

by David putnik with an infinite myths lies the eternal truths but who sees it

lies the eternal truths but who sees it

lies the eternal truths but who sees it all Verona has but a thousand eyes in

all Verona has but a thousand eyes in

all Verona has but a thousand eyes in the 100 you and I only – thank you

the 100 you and I only – thank you

the 100 you and I only – thank you [Applause]