Hard and Soft Models

&Some First Principles

How to Debate 3

How you are going to implement the motion

The job of the first speaker to outline clearly

The level of depth is at your discretion:Don’t spend too long detailing every little

aspect of the policyBut ensure the pertinent parts of the process

are clearFor most motions it should be relatively

intuitive

Models

This terminology refers to how drastic the change you are proposing isHard being a drastic change to the status quoSoft being a slight change to the status quo

Example: this house supports euthanasia

Hard and Soft Models

Soft – Restricted to incredibly sick people with no hope of a

cure and decent standard of living.

Need consent of multiple doctors and psychologists.

Can only be passive: i.e. denial of food/medicine.

SOFT Line Model

Moderate – Allowed for the terminally ill with very low standard

of living.

Requires the consent of a doctor and psychologist.

MODERATE Line Model

Hard – Available to anyone diagnosed with terminal or

debilitating illness.

Need medical consent.

Doctor assisted or self-administered.

HARD Line Model

Good teams will always go for somewhere between a moderate and a hard line model

WHY? Fairness: the softer the line you take the less

clash there is in the debate because what you are proposing is not that different from the opposition.

Strategy: harder line models facilitate more philosophically consistent cases.

Hard and Soft Models

Get into little groups of 3 (as if you were in a team)

Come up with an appropriate model for:A) This house would legalise all drugs

B) This house would reserve seats for women in ParliamentFor this, consider the different ways the case could

be run.

C)

Practice Exercise

Make teams come up with a broad outline of the arguments they would run based on those models

Look at how ‘soft models’ limit the arguments available

Discussion of the cases (AFF and NEG)…

Extend Exercise

First Principles

Most debates stem from some deeper clash between principles

Some common principles:Bodily AutonomyEquityFreedom of Expression

Note that the structure of the following slides is also how you can structure these arguments.

First Principles

What is it?Everyone has ownership rights over their own

body. I own my body and have the right to make

decisions in relation to it.Can extend to things like freedom of movement

Proviso: 3rd party harm: until my actions harm others.

Why is it important?I know my body best and can thus make the

best decisionsOther rights like free speech and free

movement are contingent on this right. It is relatively fundamental

Bodily Autonomy

This house would legalise/ban prostitution

This house would legalise marajuana (or any drug)

Debates it could apply to?

What is it?Blanket equality assumes that everyone has the

same starting point in societyEquity is about providing people with a

relatively equal starting point; it is about fairnessThrough affirmative action, or targetted schemes,

or welfare

Why is it important? Rawls: the veil of ignorance – it is only by the

lottery of birth that you were born in the family that you are in.

Given that, everyone is entitled to be brought up to an equivalent starting point.

Equity/Equality Arguments

This house supports affirmative action quotas for Maori in universities

Almost every welfare debate

Debates it applies to?

What is it?Everyone has a right to say what they want,

wear what they want, and so on (it is an extension of the idea of liberty)

You should not be stopped from voicing your opinion by anyone

Why is it important?Marketplace of ideas: everyone has unique and

useful ideas that they bring to society. (More utility basically)

It underpins a fair and equal society and a liberal democracy (Much more explanation can happen here).

Freedom of Expression

This house would ban the burqa Or other debates about religious freedoms

This house would ban/legalise hate speechOr any debate that encompasses the issue of

hate speech

Debates it applies to?

Rock and Roll People

These arguments can all be extended in creative ways to fit different debates.For example: autonomy can extend to

arguments about privacy and the right to regulate your own personal space.

Just make sure you explain your principles clearly and justify why they apply and why they’re important.

Advice

If there is time:Prep – THW allow individuals to sell their

organsIn your spare time:

Think about: This house would ban abortion at all stages of pregnancyI have not covered the specific principles in these

slides: so you will have to dig them up yourself.Some guidance:

Think about what constitutes a living agentWhy and where we should draw the lineThe effect on women

Final Practice:

Thanks for coming!