Debate Winter School
January 24-28, 2022
presented by
Sera Jey Monastic University (Karnataka, India) and
University of Groningen, The Netherlands
REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED
Registration will close on Wednesday, Jan. 19.
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In an era where new knowledge is produced at unprecedented rates and at every stage of its production is challenged by misinformation, skills of critical analysis have never been more valuable. Nalanda Debate provides a formal structure for you to engage in constructive dialogues, whether in the classroom, research lab, or daily life. It brings extra clarity as you investigate the many aspects of our world.
Who?
Graduate and doctoral students in any disciplines will find the course especially valuable; others simply wishing to learn the skill of debate are also invited. Last year’s winter school saw a diverse group of students in attendance. Register by clicking on the “Register Here” buttons on the top or bottom of the page. There will be a limited number of seats, but all interested persons are encouraged to apply. Attendees from DWS ‘21 are welcome.
What?
A five-day crash course in Nalanda Debate. Each day will consist of three live Zoom sessions including explanation and debate practice. Participants will also be asked to watch pre-recorded videos with background information and to review written materials both before and during the course.
Where?
Wherever you have internet access - this course will be fully online. Live sessions will be held at the virtual Sera Jey Monastic University in the interactive space of Gather Town.
When?
January 24 to 28, 2022.
Time slots per day will be as follows. *Please note that the Debate Practice session will be different for the EST time zone (students in CET and IST will be together, but EST will have their own session at a different time)*.
Participants west of the EST time zone will be able to join by watching recordings of Lecture 1 and joining the Lecture 2 and Debate Practice live. Participation will require a full commitment for all five days of the course.
Session
Lecture 1
Lecture 2
Debate practice*
India (IST)
17:00-18:30
20:00-21:30
14:00-15:00
Europe (CET)
12:30-14:00
15:30-17:00
09:30-10:30
USA (EST)
06:30-08:00
09:30-11:00
13:00-14:00
Why?
To learn a new method of engaged critical analysis in order to enrich one’s investigations and enable a broader and more nuanced way of thinking about science, philosophy, and life.
How much?
The winter school will be taught free of charge. Participants are invited to make a donation to Sera Jey Monastic University (please make your donations here).
Utilized by Tibetan scholar-contemplatives for the past thousand years to investigate the functions of cognition and perception, and to ultimately probe the very nature of reality, Nalanda Debate is a tried and true method of enhancing our critical thinking capacities. The unique style of using consequential reasoning – pointing out absurd logical consequences in a partner’s stated view (reductio ad absurdum reasoning) – helps to reveal hidden cognitive biases and unacknowledged contradictions held within one’s mind. By situating a dialogue in a restrictive format, the discussion can progress and unearth richer and richer meaning without getting sidetracked or falling prey to time-wasting straw man and ad hominem arguments.
While useful for anyone who intends to be an active citizen of a knowledge-based society, this tool is especially pertinent for today’s research scientists. The practice of Nalanda Debate depends on some logical rules shared in common across most systems of logic, but does not assume any knowledge or acceptance of specifically Buddhist views.
This second annual Debate Winter School is being offered by Sera Jey Monastic University to students and researchers from all parts of the world. It will be taught in English.
‘One unique thing about the Nalanda Tradition is that we extensively use a logical approach… Single-pointed meditation is good, but it is even better to do analytical meditation and engage in discussion, debate.’
H.H. the Dalai Lama, Dharamsala, Dec. 9, 2020
If you would like to see materials related to the course, please visit the Pre-Course Materials page.
The Debate Winter School is organized by Sera Jey Monastic University in Karnataka, India. It will be led by Losang Donyo of Sera Jey and Jo Donovan together with a variety of coaches and guest lecturers. It is being co-organized by Stefan Riegl and Geshe Thabkhe Lodro.
If you would like to learn more about the organizers, please check the pages on Sera Jey Monastic University or the Organizers.
Contact
In case you have questions, please contact Losang Donyo.
REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED
