Debate Topics
De Officiis by Cicero, Marcus Tullius
Pick a story conflict
Virtue vs. Expediency
"When faced with a choice between virtue and expediency, does true honor lie in unwavering adherence to moral principles, even at personal cost, or in pragmatically pursuing the best outcome for oneself and one's community, even if it requires compromising those principles?"
The Role of Philosophy in Public Life
"Should philosophers actively engage in the messy realities of public life, risking compromise and corruption, or maintain a detached pursuit of wisdom, potentially leaving the world to be governed by those less principled?"
The Justification of War
"Is war ever truly just, or is it always a manifestation of human greed and ambition, regardless of the stated justifications?"
The Nature of True Friendship
"Is true friendship based on unwavering loyalty, even when a friend is in the wrong, or does it require holding friends accountable to moral principles, even at the risk of damaging the relationship?"
💡 How Debates Work
Characters naturally disagree on some subjects, as the author intended! Discover the tensions that drive the story. Features: pre-loaded questions, clickable prompts; characters who remember and talk authentically based on their values. Jump back into your favorite stories in a whole new way.