Pang Ying:Hello, I’m Pang Ying. Welcome to Episode 23 of Think Like a Debater. This is the first debate in Part Three, and I have invited my opposing debater, Zhan Qingyun, to debate today’s motion with me.

Today’s motion is“Should selfish behavior during disasters be condemned?”I will argue in favor of condemnation, while Zhan Qingyun will argue against it.

To be honest, today’s format is fairly informal. We will take turns speaking, try not to interrupt each other too much, and ask questions or clarify our positions when needed.

Welcome, my opposing debater, Zhan Qingyun.

Zhan Qingyun:Hello, everyone.

Pang Ying:Anything else you’d like to say?

Zhan Qingyun:Although Pang Ying is the host, I won’t go easy on her today.

Pang Ying:Since you’re my guest, I’ll go easy on you.

Pang Ying:Let me begin with the affirmative case.

First, we need to define several key terms.

Selfishness can be understood very broadly. In that broad sense, even ordinary concern for one’s own interests could be called selfish.

But our motion concerns selfish behavior in a narrower sense, not the instinct of self-preservation itself.

Disasters also take many forms.

They include sudden emergencies such as earthquakes and plane crashes, as well as prolonged crises such as a pandemic, during which people may hoard essential supplies.

Condemnation likewise varies in degree, source, and form.

It can include self-discipline and self-condemnation.

It can also include criticism and moral education from others.

At its core, condemnation is a moral classification: it says an act is negative or wrong. The fact that an impulse is instinctive does not erase that judgment.

I have two arguments.