Buddhist Debating
The Buddhist Debating depends largely on the Metaphysics.
The phenomena mentioned are used to understand the relationships between the concepts and whether the concepts have a logical relationship. Further, the debate progresses on a standard format of Subject followed by Predicate and then Reason. The goal is in establishing the Reason as the Subject and the pervasion of the Predicate over the Reason. If the Reason is not established or the pervasion of the Predicate over the Reason is not established then it would amount to a Fallacious Syllogism. Various approaches to the debates are possible. The defences and the refutations are accordingly applied by the defendant.
A very simple version of Debate is presented here:
Challenger : If it is Stone, it follows it is Form Source
Defender : Agree
Challenger : Take Stone, it follows it is not Form Source
Defender : Why?
Challenger : Take Stone, it follows it is not Form. Because it is Sound Source
Defender : Reason Not Established
Challenger : Take Stone, it follows it is Sound Source
Defender : Why?
Challenger : Take Stone, it follows it is Sound Source. Because it is an inarticulate pleasant sound
Defender : Reason Not Established
Challenger : Take Stone, it follows it is an inarticulate pleasant sound
Defender : Why?
Challenger : Take Stone, it follows it is an inarticulate pleasant sound because it is sound of currency
Defender : Reason Not Established
Challenger : Take Stone, it follows it is sound of currency
Defender : Why?
Challenger : Take Stone it follows it is sound of currency. Because it is money.
Defender : Reason Not Established
Challenger : Take Stone, it follows it is money
Defender : Why?
Challenger : Take Stone, it follows it is money. Because it is wealth
Defender : Reason Not Established
Challenger : Take Diamonds, it follows it is wealth
Defender : Agree
Challenger : You have to give up your earlier position.
The Defender has to give up his original position that if it is Stone, it follows it is Form Source.