Benefits of debates and discussions
Debates and discussions have been one of the major mediums to seek the truth since time immemorial, which is evident the fact that India has had a culture of ‘Shashtra’ for a very long time.
According to the Postmodernists, there is nothing called absolute truth; it’s the plurality of perspectives and interpretations which make all the difference. In other words, postmodernists argue that what is true for you may not be necessarily true for somebody else.
Now the question arises: if there is no absolute truth in this universe then how should one at least know what is the truth? Is there any way to reach closer to the truth? On what basis one can claim that his version of the truth is more credible and better than others? To fix these doubts and problems come the role of debates and discussion into the picture. And how debates and discussions help us reach closer to the truth, we will understand in the next paragraphs.
What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the words like debates and discussions? Most probably, it would be an image of people discussing and arguing over a particular issue. Now think for a while, what happens when people debate and discuss with each other on a certain topic.
There are some people who hold “X” opinion, some hold “Y” opinion, and some hold “Z” opinion. The number of opinions held people may vary depending upon the number of participants and similarity and dissimilarity in their views regarding the topic they debate over.
People with ‘X’, ‘Y’, and ‘Z’ opinions may believe that what they know or believe is the only truth, that’s why it should prevail over other versions of the truth. But, usually it has been found that when somebody, let’s say with an ‘X’ opinion, thinks or believes that only his version of truth is the only truth, while rest of others are nonsense; it not only blinds that individual to the other version of truth but also closes his mind to accept the fact that other people might also have the element of truth in their ideas.
You can imagine what kind of situations it will create if everyone starts thinking that what they think and know is the only truth. Obviously, it will increase the acrimony and bitterness amongst the people. Sometimes people may even resort to the violence to prove their point right and curb the voices which are contrary to theirs.
But, instead of fighting with each other with closed mind and a prejudice in the heart, if we engage in the debates and discussions; listen to the other’s version of truth with patience; and then come up with a “synthesis” which will be the amalgamation of the various versions of truth of many people, the outcome we get will have more element of truth than that of any individual’s own version of truth.
This art of investigating or discussing the truth of opinions is known as dialectics. As this process of dialectics keeps on repeating when an idea is countered another idea, there comes a point when one reaches very close to the truth.
Hence, in a nutshell, the greatest benefit of engaging into debates and discussions is that it helps us reach closer to the truth that is usually surrounded the various layers of ignorance, presumptions, and beliefs.
We come out of the cocoon of those ideas and opinions which, for a long time, blur our vision of reality. It inculcates the virtue of tolerance and acceptance within us. It makes us understand that truth is never black or white, rather it has various shades.
Currently, I am pursuing B.A(H) Political science from Satyawati College, Delhi University.
I like public speaking, writing and reading in my leisure.
