All Debates
You are browsing through all debates. You can refine the results by using the drop-down boxes above. You can view more information about each debate by clicking Show Details at right.
Private tapes of Diana, Princess of Wales, are to be broadcast for the first time in the UK.Channel 4 is releasing a documentary film entitled "Diana: In Her Own Words" to commemorate the 20th anniversary of her death. It will feature recordings made during speech coaching sessions in which Diana talked about her difficult marriage and her sex life.A spokesperson for the broadcaster has said the tapes are of important historical value.Others are concerned that broadcasting the tapes is a breach of privacy and may have a negative impact on the Royal Family and on Diana's sons, Prince William and Prince Harry.Is it morally acceptable to broadcast the tapes?
Which is more important in ethical decision-making: emotion or logic?
In ethical systems such as Kantian ethics and utilitarianism, logic is seen as the most important for making ethical decisions.However, other people argue that we should intuitively "know" if something feels right or wrong without having to work it out.Which do you believe is more important? Or should they both have their place?
In some countries the drinking age is 16 or lower; in others it is illegal to drink or purchase alcohol before the age of 21.Some argue that a lower drinking age encourages young people to learn to respect alcohol and a high drinking age encourages covert and binge drinking.Others argue that drinking is harmful for the brain and should be restricted.
Are Westerners ignorant of countries and cultures outside their own?
The Internet is a good platform for poorly informed beliefs and stereotypes which tend to be peddled as if they were fact in online discourse. This raises the question: is the West ignorant of other countries and cultures (including other Western countries)? If so, what's to blame? Does knowledge of other cultures, and what's going on in the rest of the world, differ between countries? How should the problem be addressed? And is it really that important that the problem be addressed in today's society?
Parents have argued that the strict segregation of children's toys ought to end. For example, many girl's toys are in bright pink packaging and are very stereotypical "feminine" toys which encourage care, nurture and empathy. By contrast, many boy's toys are action-focused, whether it be toy guns or things to build.Gender roles are often established at a young age. In today's society, should we be encouraging children to play with the toys they want to play with? For example, they might encourage more boys to be nurses and teachers, and more girls to be scientists.On the other hand, are some toys just naturally better for one gender over another?
A minority language is one with a relatively low number of speakers. In Britain, these would include languages like Welsh, Cornish and Scottish Gaelic. Should languages like these be given special government protections to help prevent them from dying out?
Some people argue that private schools provide a better education than state-run schools and discipline is often better. However, others argue that private schools are elitist and give an unfair advantage to those from wealthy, privileged backgrounds. Are independent schools, which can run with minimal state interference and select the pupils they want, a good or a bad thing?
The Queen of England, Queen Elizabeth II, has ruled for longer than any other monarch in British history and has become a much loved and respected figure across the globe. However, some argue that the monarchy should be abolished, perhaps on her death. Whilst the Royal Family provides the UK with revenue from tourism and is a long-standing remnant of British culture, others claim that the monarchy is outdated and a drain on the taxpayer.
Voter apathy is arguably an issue. Only 58% of eligible people voted in the 2016 US Election and around 65% voted in the 2017 French Election.Spoiling one's ballot would not get you fined, but failing to turn up at a polling station / sending in a postal vote would.This system is already in place in Australia, which saw a 93% turnout last election.Is voting a privilege (one which is revoked for some criminals) or is it a social responsibility? Should you be fined if you don't vote?
Some people claim that faith schools create insular communities, others that religion should have no place in mainstream education. However, others argue that they help preserve faiths and cultural traditions. Should they be banned?
Fox hunting was banned in the UK in 2004. However, there have been campaigns from those living in the countryside, as well as the Conservative party.Those who support fox hunting argue that it is an important British tradition which brings revenue to those in rural areas. Those who oppose fox hunting say that it is animal cruelty and only a small elite partake in the sport.
Pedigree dogs are those of pure breed; generally speaking, this results in the dogs being more inbred as the parents often have very similar gene pools. This can cause serious health problems such as Cavalier King Charles spaniels having skulls too small for their brains, which results in serious pain for the dog.By owning a pedigree dog, even if the animal does not display serious symptoms of inbreeding, it could be argued that the owner is inadvertently supporting this industry, and the idea that pedigree dogs are superior to those of mixed breed. Mixed breed dogs tend to be healthier, but should historic dog breeds be allowed to go extinct in favour of a more "generic" type of dog?
Last time Scotland had a referendum on independence the majority voted to remain part of the United Kingdom. However, times have changed; for example, Scotland as a whole voted to remain in the European Union when the rest of the UK voted against it. Would Scotland be better off if it were given independence, or would independence be detrimental both to Scotland and the other countries of the United Kingdom?
A "tampon tax" is where sanitary products are taxed as luxury items, as opposed to medical items which are not taxed. Some argue that single-use products are wasteful and a luxury; others argue that women do not choose to have periods and should therefore not have to pay tax on what can be costly products, the expense of which stacks up for women over time.
Although some people argue revenue is lost through Internet piracy, others point out that those who pirate content tend to pay the price, for example through inferior products and greater risk of computer problems.Should we be doing more to stop piracy, or should we take the view that karma will usually come calling to those who pirate?
This is a very hot topic where I come from and I thought it might be interesting to debate.Here is how fracking works, in a nutshell (credit to the BBC for explaining the science behind it):*Fracking is the process of drilling down into the earth before a high-pressure water mixture is directed at the rock to release the gas inside.Water, sand and chemicals are injected into the rock at high pressure which allows the gas to flow out to the head of the well.The process can be carried out vertically or, more commonly, by drilling horizontally to the rock layer and can create new pathways to release gas or can be used to extend existing channels.The term fracking refers to how the rock is fractured apart by the high pressure mixture.*Fracking can cause localised earth tremors and may cause contamination of groundwater supplies. However, supporters argue that it's better for a country to be self-sufficient with its energy needs, which would avoid the potential problems of buying fossil fuels from politically unstable countries in the Middle East.
In the UK, you need to have a licence to watch TV. The licence pays for the BBC, the British Broadcasting Corporation and one of the biggest TV providers in the country. There are no commercials on BBC channels, which aim to provide good quality original programmes and relatively unbiased news coverage. If you have a TV licence, you also have a right to watch BBC iPlayer.You can be prosecuted if you are found to be watching TV without a licence and have to pay a fine of up to £1,000.Is it reasonable to ask for a licence to fund public broadcasting, as it's non-essential, for the taxpayer's benefit and should not be controlled by corporations? Or is it better to watch TV without paying for a licence, and have more commercials?
↓ Show Details
