Q&A: But What Is A Debate? A Miserable Pile Of Rhetoric?

I am proud of that email title. Keep it if you can.  

Anyway on to the question. It is really really simple. Are debates even worth watching? I mean, debates seem like the perfect way to decide between a matter. Weigh the arguments of each side and such. But don’t debates just measure the rhetorical skills of each side? Aren’t debates just these exercises in rhetorical skills and ability instead of the intellect...