The Art of Debate

By: Jarrod Atchison, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Jarrod Atchison

If you're like many people, you might associate debate with a high school or college club, or perhaps a TV political debate that features two or more candidates talking over each other. But if these are your only associations with debating, you're missing out on an exhilarating intellectual pursuit that can help you in all aspects of your daily life. The ability to debate - to present persuasive arguments, pierce the logic of others, and turn the tables against withering cross-examinations - is one of the truest tests of one's intellectual capacity.

The Art of Debate offers you the ultimate how-to guide for anyone interested in learning this powerful skill. Taught by acclaimed Professor Jarrod Atchison of Wake Forest University, these 24 stimulating lectures will help you develop your command of logic, construct clear and concise arguments, recognize the fallacies in others' reasoning, and sharpen your strategic thinking skills. Through a series of well-structured lectures that proceed logically through each formal element of a debate, Professor Atchison shows you how to build and defend an argument, sharpening your critical thinking skills so that you come away from the course well prepared for any kind of debate.

While Professor Atchison provides you an abundance of insight into the formal elements of debate, the focus of this course is on applied debating - developing skills that you can apply to the real world to help you think through complex issues and arrive at better decisions. Imagine you are a manager faced with a difficult dilemma: should you repair some of your manufacturing equipment, or invest in new equipment? What do you do?

Whether you are trying to make a tough business decision or lead a lively discussion at the dinner table, this course will elevate your strategic thinking, providing insight not only into how to win arguments, but how to present ideas more generally.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2017 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2017 The Great Courses

Lets Debate

Jarrod Atchison has shown that debate and argumentation is not just something to do on Facebook, but it can also help with decision making in the work place, and when coming up with different ideas. Everything from family decisions and work decisions and even larger policy choices can benefit from "The Art of Debate"

The narrator

I've listened to numerous audiobooks, and without a doubt, this narrator has more passion for the subject than any other. His enthusiasm is palpable because he teaches it. His love for the topic shines through, and his emotional delivery has guided me through every chapter. I commend this man, and if I were a student at his university, I would definitely take his course.

Important information

We live at a time when there are millions of Americans who believe the world is run by shape shifting lizards. Who believe the Earth is flat. Who do not believe man has landed on the moon.
The ability to know when that cable news personality is lying to you about vaccines and other things (a good percentage of the time, if you were wondering) is an invaluable skill that democracies should encourage.
This course helps people to think and make good decisions. Who wouldn’t want to learn those skills?

Very useful skill set

This course should be part of everybody’s education and will improve business and private life alike.

Helps to prepare for important debate

How to create arguments, structure the debate and fight opponent's fallacies to persuade an audience to adopt your point of view.
Kind of systematic approach that helps when the debating parties respect at least basic rules: a topic to debate and equal time to talk.
The biggest value is it helps to prepare a strategy and potential reactions to typical situations that happen in the debate.