Debate and Critical Thinking: Between Competition and Edu-cational Development

Abstract

Debate presents a competitive component based on the clash of positions, yet it possesses significant educational value rooted in its history and current pedagogical use. This contribution examines the relationship between this competitiveness and the development of critical thinking in students. Alternative pedagogical approaches based on rational dialogue, which minimize or exclude competition, are analyzed. In contrast, this study identifies the conditions necessary for debate to foster critical skills that are not limited to competitive success, but instead consolidate into a solid, enduring, and metareflective habit throughout a student's educational journey.