InstaGov/Debate Mapper

About

The InstaGov Debate Mapper module is web software for debate mapping. It is ultimately intended to be integrated with the other InstaGov modules, but should also be available for standalone use.

Rules

adapted from InstaGov

• Every debate starts with a claim which asserts as fact the subject of the debate.
• Any claim may be answered by zero or more responses, each of which is also a claim
• Each response must relate to the target claim in one of the following ways:
  • Support: an argument that the parent claim is true
  • Counter: an argument that the parent claim is false
  • Informal (or "informational"): information which neither supports nor contradicts the parent claim but helps narrow or guide the discussion in some way
• Any response may also be viewed as a target claim, and the rules for target claims (given above) apply without modification
• Any claim may either be standalone or bundled:
  • A standalone claim remains active as long as it has at least one active supporting claim
  • A bundled claim remains active only as long as all of its supporting claims remain active
• Any claim which has no active counterclaims is described as "active" and possibly true
• Any claim which has at least one active counterclaim is described as "inactive" and presumed to be false
• A response claim may require a chain of reasoning in support; in this case:
  • each link of the chain becomes its own claim, subject to the same rules as any other claim
  • failure (deactivation) of any one of the links in the chain invalidates (deactivates) the claim (normal claims remain active as long as any one supporting claim remains active)