MotionHouse

Filters

Date range
Clear all filters

4725 motions

Data missing or incorrect? Contribute!

  • This House prefers a world governed by utilitarian ethics over one governed by deontological ethics.

    Infoslide

    Utilitarian ethics is a consequentialist moral philosophy that judges the rightness of actions based on their outcomes, specifically aiming to maximize overall happiness or minimize overall suffering. Deontological ethics is a duty-based moral philosophy that judges the rightness of actions based on adherence to universal moral rules or duties, regardless of outcomes.

    DS Asia Cup - Schools Edition 2025 · Grand Final · 2025-09-13

  • This house prefers a world where all individuals believe in Karmic reincarnation

    Infoslide

    Karmic reincarnation is the belief that what you do in this life decides what happens when you are born again in your next life. When you do good things, you get good karma and this leads to being born into a better life (e.g., if you help others and are kind, you might be born as a human again). When you do bad things, you get bad karma and this leads to being born into a worse life (e.g., if you hurt people and commit crimes, you might be born as an animal or have a harder life).

    Shanghai WSDC Open 2025 · Round 6 · 2025-09-12

  • You are the world leader of a country on the precipice of nuclear war with another nation. This house believes that it is morally justified for you to give the order to authorize Launch on Warning.

    Infoslide

    Launch on Warning is a nuclear weapons strategy in which a state launches its nuclear missiles immediately upon receiving credible early-warning signals that an adversary has launched (or is about to launch) a nuclear strike, but before the incoming missiles actually land. The policy relies on early-warning systems such as satellites and radar to detect launches. The rationale is to prevent a country’s nuclear arsenal from being destroyed in a first strike and to ensure a guaranteed retaliatory capability (i.e., maintaining “deterrence” through second-strike capability).

    Shanghai WSDC Open 2025 · Grand Final · 2025-09-12

  • This house predicts that ideology will cease to be the dominant factor in the conduct of foreign policy

    Infoslide

    In international relations, ideology in foreign policy refers to the use of overarching belief systems, values, or doctrines as guiding principles in a state’s external actions. These can influence how a country defines its allies and rivals, frames its long-term vision for the international order, and justifies its interventions abroad.

    Shanghai WSDC Open 2025 · Semi Final · 2025-09-12

  • This house believes that Lotso was justified in preventing the toys from leaving Sunnyside Daycare to find an owner.

    Infoslide

    In the Toy Story movie franchise, toys are sentient beings whose purpose is to bring joy and happiness to the children in Sunnyside Daycare. However, these toys wish to have their own personal owner. Lotso is the main villain in Toy Story 3. He controls and rules the other toys in Sunnyside Daycare and tells them that they are "destined to be thrown away" and that "no owners means no heartbreak." Lotso's main goal is to keep the toys from escaping the daycare. Lotso's outlook stems from being abandoned and replaced by his owner Daisy.

    Beijing International Schools Debating Championship 2025 · Grand Final · 2025-09-05

  • This house believes that societies should embrace many coexisting narratives (multicultural pluralism) over promote a shared meta-narrative (France’s "laïcité" or Singapore’s communitarian story)

    Connections IV 2025 · Semifinals · 2025-08-30

  • This House Opposes the rise of Universes Beyond inside of Magic: the Gathering

    Infoslide

    "Magic: the Gathering is a popular competitive trading card game created in 1993, with around 50 million players worldwide. Players build decks of cards to compete against one another in a variety of different formats. Some formats rotate, only allowing the use of cards from the last few years. New cards are released as part of themed sets that are usually self-contained stories in their own worlds, with new sets of ~300 cards being released 4-5 times a year. The theming of Magic: the Gathering is reminiscent of classic high fantasy media such as Dungeons & Dragons or Lord of the Rings, with the players representing powerful wizards who can travel across the different worlds sets are contained on. Sets rarely deviated from this theme, with those taking place in cyberpunk or steampunk settings being few and far between. Universes Beyond was announced in 2024 as a way to bring new players into Magic: the Gathering by having 1-2 sets per year based on third-party IPs. So far, full sets based on Final Fantasy, Spiderman, and Avatar: the Last Airbender have been announced, with cards from these sets being fully legal in all formats of play."

    Connections IV 2025 · Round 2 · 2025-08-30

  • This house prefers common good constitutionalism to liberal constitutionalism

    Infoslide

    Common-Good Constitutionalism (CGC) and Liberal Constitutionalism represent contrasting approaches to understanding the purpose and interpretation of law. CGC, rooted in classical natural law, emphasizes the role of law in promoting the flourishing of a well-ordered political community and achieving the "common good." In contrast, Liberal Constitutionalism prioritizes individual rights and liberties, limiting government power through a structured constitution and promoting democracy, rule of law, and human rights.

    Connections IV 2025 · Round 1 · 2025-08-30