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The Great Debates: Traditions and Forms




(clockwise from top left: Moshe Halbertal; Zoltan Kluger/GPO via Getty Images; Ebrahim Moosa; ADEK BERRY/AFP/Getty Images; Thupten Jinpa/Suzanna Finley; Feng Li/Getty Images)


Asia Society's The Great Debates: Traditions and Forms series explores systems of debates and discourse across cultures and religions. Each program provides an overview of the debate form through a short lecture and continues with a panel that demonstrates a potential interpretation on a current topical issue.

The Great Debates: Traditions and Forms series is made possible by a grant from the Rockefeller Foundation NYC Cultural Innovation Fund.

Presented in association with City Lore  

Upcoming Events

The Great Debates: Panel of Ideas in Action
April 21st & 22nd - 3:00pm - 6:00pm

The Great Debates: The Art of Debate, Jewish Style
Historian, commentator and ordained rabbi Micah Halpern takes listeners through the classic Jewish tradition of discourse and debate.
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The Great Debates: Ideas in Action, Part II
Experts look at affinities and key differences between the Tibetan Buddhist and Confucian systems of discourse and debate.
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The Great Debates: Ideas in Action, Part I
A demonstration of traditional Tibetan Buddhist debate is followed by a talk on Confucian ideals in 21st-century Asia.
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The Art of Debate: Jewish Style
An examination of Jewish Debate by Micah D. Halpern, columnist and social and political commentator
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The Great Debates: Islamic Debate (Highlights)
Key moments from the panel discussion on Shari'a and Islamic law led by Duke University Professor of Religion and Islamic Studies Ebrahim Moosa.
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The Great Debates: Islamic Debate (Complete)
Duke University Professor of Religion and Islamic Studies Ebrahim Moosa leads a panel discussion on Shari'a and Islamic law.
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Rabbis, Butchers, and a Great Tradition (Talmudic Debate)
Highlights of Asia Society's "Great Debates" talk between Moshe Halbertal and Jeff Israel on the traditions behind Talmudic debate.
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The Great Debates: Jewish Talmudic Debate (Complete)
Scholars Moshe Halbertal and Jeff Israel explore the traditions underlying Talmudic debate.
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Highlights: Tibetan Debate
How do Tibetan monks make a point? A "Tibetan Debates" highlights video reveals all.
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Great Debates: Tibetan Debate (Complete)
Monks from the Drepung Loseling Monastery demonstrate Tibetan-style debate.
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