What are famous debates in history?

Answer 1

Hi! I've just been thinking about some of the things I should put together for my kids to consider this year when they are home schooled (for a year anyway). Here are some of the debates I would like to introduce them to.

Free will and predestination, which would include reference to Luther/Erasmus, Calvin/Armenius and Pelagius/Augustine debates)

Luther versus Tetzel (on works versus faith for salvation as seen in Luther's 95 Theses)

Booker T. Washington vs. Eugene DuBois on the direction and strategy of race relations

Athanasius vs. Arius on nature of the Father, Son and Spirit (Nicene Council)

Einstein vs. Neils Bohr on quantum mechanics

The Scopes Trial (Clarence Darrow vs. Wm. Jennings Bryan) and continued debate on teaching Intelligent Design vs. Materialistic Evolution

Ludwig Wittgenstein vs. Classical Philosophy on the usefulness of language in determining anything significant.

Republican/Conservative views versus Democratic/Liberal views

Empiricism vs. Rationalism

Other "great debates" that I wouldn't really plan to get my kids into now:

Abortion/Anti-Abortion

Gay Marriage/Nature of Homosexuality

debates surrounding roles of men and women in society

debates surrounding economic policy/monetary standards

debates surrounding population control

debates surrounding use of Natural Resources (oil, coal, etc.)

debates surrounding rights of species other than ours

debates surrounding the nature of intelligence and how it should be measured

debates surrounding String Theory and M-theory (as theories of everything)

that's about it for now!

Answer 2

Well, there's always the debate over segregation, and also women, and what power they hold in society.