posted 9th December 2024
Debaters should take the long view. Although, in the middle of a debate, they may be grappling with the details of a particular issue or case, they will do this much better if they can step back and put the arguments in a wider context. A good knowledge of the big ideas behind debate issues, and of the historical context, will ensure their arguments are founded on rock rather than sand. They will also be better debaters if they take this broader, analytical view out of the debating chamber and apply it to the rest of their lives, thinking about the big ideas behind the books they read, the films they watch, and what is going on in the world.
But how to acquire this broader view? Here’s a podcast that will help you. There’s a clue in the name - Past, Present, Future. Hosted by David Runciman, it takes ideas from the past, applies them to the present, and looks at how the future might unfold. Previous episodes have covered key political ideas, the politics of famous books and films, bad ideas and what we can learn from them, and how our relationship with machines can help us understand the impact of AI. Although Runciman is a former Cambridge professor, he has a genius for making complex ideas both relevant and easy to understand, and is skilled at getting his expert guests to do the same.
Listen to this podcast regularly and you will become a better debater and a more informed, clearer thinking citizen.
