Zhihu, is adequate food and clothing a moral necessity?
In favour: Cambridge University team.
Against: Fudan University team.
Chairman: Li Xueping
Time:1the evening of August 25th, 993.
(Applause)
PRESIDENT: Good evening, ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to the fourth and final preliminary contest of 1993 International University Debate Competition. The winning team tonight will enter the semi-finals, and they will compete with the winning team last night, the University of Sydney, for the final seat. The two teams that can enter the finals will receive generous bonuses, the champion team will receive a cash reward of 10000 yuan, and the runner-up team will also receive 5000 yuan in cash. As for which team will win tonight? We'll see later. I believe everyone is familiar with the rules of this debate, so I won't go into details.
The two teams we are debating tonight are Cambridge University and Fudan University. Now I'd like to introduce you to the debate representatives from both sides.
On my right is the representative of Founder Cambridge University. The first is Tang Zhimin, a third-year doctoral student in the Department of Economics; The second Sun Xuejun, a second-year doctoral student in English Department; The third is Wu, a second-year doctoral student in the engineering department; The fourth is the first-year master's degree in community medicine. On my left is the representative of the opposing Fudan University team. The first is Jiang Feng, a sophomore in the Chinese Department of China Institute of Language and Literature; The second Ji Xiang, a sophomore in law; Jia Yan, third, in the fourth grade of law department; The fourth Jiang Changjian is a third-year student in the master's class of the Department of International Politics. (Applause)
There are five more jury members tonight. They are: Dr. Zhong Zhibang, director of the Trinity Theological Seminary Institute; (Applause) The second lawyer is Mr. Hui, the director of the Singapore Broadcasting Bureau. (Applause) The third place is Mr. Guo, the artistic director of the National Centre for the Performing Arts. (Applause) The fourth is Dr. Wei Weixian, honorary president of Nanyang Art Institute. (Applause) The fifth is Mr. Zhang Xia, director of the Support and Public Relations Department of the National Arts Council. (Applause)
Our debate tonight is very relevant to everyone, that is, food and clothing is a necessary condition for talking about morality. Food and clothing is a necessary condition for talking about morality. The position of the opposing side is that food and clothing is not a necessary condition for talking about morality. The positions of both sides were decided by drawing lots.
Now I declare: 1993 The fourth preliminary contest of the International University Debate Competition officially begins. First of all, please let Tang Zhimin, the first representative of the square, state his position and speak for 3 minutes. (Applause)
Tang Zhimin: Hello everyone! Tonight's topic is "Food and clothing is a necessary condition for talking about morality". Food and clothing are the most basic needs of people, and morality is morality. Food and clothing is a necessary condition for talking about morality, that is to say, there is no morality without food and clothing.
What is morality? Some people say that morality is the value standard for people to judge right and wrong. I asked my classmates, what is the basis for people to judge right and wrong? In the final analysis, it depends on whether this thing meets people's needs. And I will ask other students, what is the most basic need for human survival? Is food and clothing. Then I will ask other students, if we talk about a morality, and as a result, everyone can't guarantee food and clothing. Do we still need this morality? Of course not. Therefore, we say that food and clothing is a necessary condition for talking about morality.
What is morality? Some people say that morality is the code of human behavior. I asked my classmates, what do people do after they have formulated a code of conduct? The code of conduct is formulated to meet people's needs. Let me ask other students again, what are the most basic and minimum needs for human survival? Is food and clothing. Let me ask other students again, if we make a code of conduct, the result is that everyone can't guarantee food and clothing. Do we need this code of conduct? Of course not. Therefore, we say that food and clothing is a necessary condition for talking about morality.
When you are hungry and cold, what morality can you talk about without food and clothing? Of course not. Let me ask you, what should we do for people who are hungry and cold? What we should do most is to relieve their hunger and cold. So at this time, what we should talk about most is the morality that can help them have plenty of food and clothing. What do people who are hungry and cold like to hear best? It is a truth that can help them relieve hunger and cold, not an empty sermon that is divorced from the reality of their lives. If you talk about morality and can't even guarantee their food and clothing, it is impossible to succeed. Therefore, we say that food and clothing is a necessary condition for talking about morality.
Historically, Boyi and Shu Qi were ashamed of eating Zhou Su and would rather starve to death. (Time warning) Isn't food and clothing a necessary condition for morality there? Of course not. Boyi and Shu Qi can be regarded as people with lofty ideals. Can the morality of people with lofty ideals be carried forward in society? Let me ask you, what is the purpose of people with lofty ideals? To save the world. And I ask you again, what is the most basic and minimum demand for survival in this world? Is food and clothing. I ask you again, if people with lofty ideals struggle all their lives, and everyone in the world has no food and clothing as a result, will they still do so? No, is it still interesting for them to do so? It's boring, so we say that food and clothing is a necessary condition for talking about morality. Thank you. (Applause)
CHAIRMAN: Thank you, Mr TANG Zhimin. Next, please ask Jiang Feng, the first representative of the opposing party, to state his position and speak for 3 minutes. (Applause)