Issuepedia:Structured Debate/v2009

This version of the rules allows for "informal" points and "bundling". It also uses slightly different terminology.

• Every argument starts with a target claim which asserts as fact the subject of the debate.
• Any claim may be answered by zero or more response claims
• Each response claim must relate to the target claim in one of the following ways:
  • Support: an argument that the parent claim is true
  • Counter: an argument that the parent claim is false
  • Informal (or "informational"): information which neither supports nor contradicts the parent claim but helps narrow or guide the discussion in some way
• Any response claim may also be viewed as a target claim, and the rules for target claims (given above) apply without modification
• Any claim may either be standalone or bundled:
  • A standalone claim remains active as long as it has at least one active supporting claim
  • A bundled claim remains active only as long as all of its supporting claims remain active
• Any claim which has no active counterclaims is described as "active" and possibly true
• Any claim which has at least one active counterclaim is described as "inactive" and presumed to be false
• A response claim may require a chain of reasoning in support; in this case:
  • each link of the chain becomes its own claim, subject to the same rules as any other claim
  • failure (deactivation) of any one of the links in the chain invalidates (deactivates) the claim (normal claims remain active as long as any one supporting claim remains active)

For example, a claim may have several counterclaims, but if they have all been countered as well, then the main claim remains active and will be considered true.