Instigator / Pro
0
1487
rating
31
debates
35.48%
won
Topic
#3624

THBT: suffering occurs due to false belief

Status
Finished

The debate is finished. The distribution of the voting points and the winner are presented below.

Winner & statistics
Better arguments
0
3
Better sources
0
2
Better legibility
0
1
Better conduct
0
1

After 1 vote and with 7 points ahead, the winner is...

Intelligence_06
Parameters
Publication date
Last updated date
Type
Standard
Number of rounds
3
Time for argument
One week
Max argument characters
10,000
Voting period
Two weeks
Point system
Multiple criterions
Voting system
Open
Contender / Con
7
1731
rating
167
debates
73.05%
won
Description

Pro: suffering occurs due to false belief
Con: suffering doesn't occur due to false belief

Criterion
Pro
Tie
Con
Points
Better arguments
3 point(s)
Better sources
2 point(s)
Better legibility
1 point(s)
Better conduct
1 point(s)
Reason:

Arguments: Once again I seem to have found a debate where at least one participant seems to be arguing a different claim than the title of the debate states. It would be really nice if this was clarified in the description so that it is absolutely clear beforehand what is in question. I will be rating this debate in terms of the title claim, "suffering occurs due to false belief" rather than any posited afterwards. This bodes badly for Pro because he manages to use the phrase "false belief(s)" exactly once in all of his arguments.
R1. Pro starts by making points to the effect that " suffering is a mental concept and never a physical one," and "If you have faith that there’s a reason and meaning for suffering, you’ll be able to endure it, even if you don’t know exactly what that reason is, and by being able to endure suffering, you will not be a slave to pleasure and comfort, an by not being a slave to pleasure and comfort, you’ll retain your freedom, and by retaining your freedom, you’ll be able to serve any idea you want, rather than the idea someone else wants you to serve." (this run-on sentence will be addressed in the S&G section as well.)
Con contends this by giving examples of suffering that are independent of beliefs, e.g., amputation. He also brings up the point that "[j]ust because you can endure suffering doesn't make it non-suffering" in rebuttal to the run-on sentence above.
R2 I will be ignoring the arguments surrounding definition in this portion, as they have little bearing on the claims being made, despite the amount of time Pro spends contending them. The main rebuttals Pro makes here is 1. that kamikazes don't suffer and 2. the statement "I never said suffering is always avoidable. You will always suffer as we always have expectations."
Con refutes the second argument by pointing out the moved goalposts, arguing that these "expectations" do not have to be false to induce suffering, and in fact are often true.
The first argument I honestly couldn't follow, but as far as I can tell a single example of belief decreasing or eliminating suffering isn't a knockdown argument.
R3: "I've lost interest in continuing this discussion" I hesitate to call this a concession, but it does weaken Pro's position, and he fails to rebut R2's arguments.
Points to Con

Sources: As a philosophical argument, statements of fact don't play into this debate too much. However, the sources used by Pro consists of two quotes, one by Victor Frankl, a psychiatrist, and Dostoevsky, a Russian fiction writer. On the other hand, Con's sources include the eminent Merriam-Webster Dictionary in his contention of Pro's definitions, cites multiple articles to support his points on human physiology and psychology, and has a nice pop culture reference in the form of Star Wars. While the last counts for little in terms of debate, the overview points to Con for professional rigor. Points to Con.

Spelling and Grammar: In terms of formatting, it WAS slightly annoying that the entirety of Pro's R1 argument was italicised, but the tipping point for me was this behemoth of a run-on sentence. "If you have faith that there’s a reason and meaning for suffering, you’ll be able to endure it, even if you don’t know exactly what that reason is, and by being able to endure suffering, you will not be a slave to pleasure and comfort, an by not being a slave to pleasure and comfort, you’ll retain your freedom, and by retaining your freedom, you’ll be able to serve any idea you want, rather than the idea someone else wants you to serve." Points to Con

Conduct: Pro pulls the "English isn't your first language" card. "I understand you might not believe me; English isn't your first language, after all" I honestly didn't know that Con was from China until today because his English on this site has been impeccable, and even his formatting is well above average, so not only was this a "dick move" as I like to call it, but completely groundless. The ad hominem attack inherent in dismissing Con's definitions (which are sourced from one of the most reputable English dictionaries around, mind you)on these grounds is inexcusable. Additionally, Pro basically concedes in R3. Points to Con.