Think Piece

DEBATES AND ARGUMENTS - Part I of II

Episode Summary

This is our very first episode, and we will kick things off by first establishing clarity and insight into what has become as of late a popular pastime, debating and argumentation. However, you may be surprised to hear what it may mean to debate, and what the main part of debate, argumentation, may mean for our conversations, disagreements, and yes, agreements. We’ll discuss what it means for our day to day, conflict such as the civil rights movement, as well as, what our guest specializes in, “the larger scope of human rights, humor and politics, and general public controversies.” Part II discusses these ideas more in-depth.

Episode Notes

Dr. Voth is a Professor at Southern Methodist University and an academic expert in debate, argumentation, communication, public speaking, and rhetoric. 

His expertise is cited in national publications such as The Washington Post, U.S. News, and World Report. Dr. Voth’s unique approach to communication emphasizes the role of free speech, dissent, and argument in preventing and reversing problems of human injustice. Specializing in a rhetorical studies approach allows him to teach courses in public speaking, argumentation and debate, persuasion theory, political communication, communication and ethnoviolence, and communication and genocide. Dr. Voth's latest book, Debate as Global Pedagogy: Rwanda Rising, is a further look on the topics we discuss, as well as his other books The Rhetoric of Genocide: Death as a Text. and James Farmer Jr.: the Great Debater

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