FYS 71 It's Debatable!
How do you really know what you think until you’ve had to defend it? Debate gives us a way to explore ideas actively—to articulate our reasons, consider serious challenges, and (sometimes!) discover that our thinking has changed. Our class will use the method of debate to explore three distinct case studies. First, is it ethical to use animals for medical research? Second, how should we assess the use of AI chatbots? Third, can people in prison freely consent to being organ donors, or are they being exploited? Students will debate these cases in class, and each student will develop a research project based on the case they find most compelling. Our approach will be interdisciplinary, meaning students will explore both empirical and theoretical issues.
Open only to first-year frosh.