Here are a few simple guidelines to go over before you begin.
We created The Agora as a free space for discourse, where people can join the conversations started by our youth. There is a thread for each essay featured in our collection, and we invite you to view every word as an invitation to think more deeply and every statement as a question up for debate. In honor of the ancient Greek marketplace and meeting venue of all the classic Greek philosophers, we've called our online discussion forum: The Agora.
We seek to stay true to its core qualities of openness, curiosity, and community, though we did make a few policy changes in the realms of equality (girls are allowed here) and judgement (no one is getting poisoned for a bad idea). To ensure that everyone has the best experience and to maintain a safe and positive environment for all our young philosophers, we have just a few simple rules for you.
Be as clear and concise as you can. Remember that the goal is not to sound smart or to use the most flowery language you can find, but to express your ideas in the most understandable way possible and to foster productive, intelligent discussion.
Keep an open mind. Always be ready to be proven wrong, and remember that finding the best idea should be the most important thing in philosophy, whether it comes from you or not. If you encounter an idea or statement you do not agree with, refrain from commenting on the character of the writer and instead argue against the idea or statement using logic.
Be respectful at all times. We do not tolerate vulgarity or harrassment of any kind. This includes swear words, obscene or derrogatory language, and discrimination based on race, sex, SOGIE, religion, political standing, etc. If you encounter a post that you believe may be harmful to have on the site, please contact us immediately so that we can evaluate the situation and take action if necessary. In such cases, PhilosophYouth reserves the right to make the final decision on whether the post may remain on the site.
Always add to and build on the conversation. Refrain from posting undefended or excessively simple agreements or disagreements (e.g. "Yes, that's definitely true." / "You're wrong."). If you agree with an opinion expressed, state why you agree with it and try to add more supporting evidence for the argument. If you disagree with an opinion expressed, always defend your opinion with the reasons why you believe the previous view was incorrect. It is acceptable to critique a statement or argument, but remember that it is never acceptable to criticize the person behind it.
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