Academic Year 2022-2023

Fall Semester 2022

• Disputation CCLVIII: 12/8/22 — Athena Bestows Her Gifts Most Abundantly Through Elite Institutions
• Disputation CCLVII: 12/1/22 — To Do Good, First Make Money
• Disputation CCLVI: 11/17/22 — Love is a Choice
• Disputation CCLV: 11/10/22 — Burn the West Gallery (of the National Gallery of Art)
• Disputation CCLIV: 11/3/22 — Live Forever
• Disputation CCLIII: 10/20/22 — Embrace Virtual Reality
• Disputation CCLII: 10/13/22 — Some Things Ought Be Beyond Questioning
• Disputation CCLI: 9/29/22 — American Culture Ought Be Unified Through Patriotism
• Disputation CCL: 9/22/22 — Love Your Labor
• Disputation CCXLIX: 9/15/22 — Our Lives Are Not Our Own
• Disputation CCXLVIII: 9/8/22 — Belief in the Human Soul Enriches the Life of the Individual

Academic Year 2021-2022

Spring Semester 2022

• Disputation CCXLVII: 5/5/22 — The United States Ought Pay Reparations for Slavery
• Disputation CCXLVI: 4/14/22 — We Ought Seek Greatness In Our Lives
• Disputation CCXLV: 3/31/22 — Drop the “Standard” in Standard American English
• Disputation CCXLIV: 2/24/22 — Commit Yourself To A Place
• Disputation CCXLIII: 2/16/22 — We Ought Embrace Prenatal Genetic Modification
• Disputation CCXLII: 2/9/22 — Terraform Planet Earth
• Disputation CCXLI: 2/2/22 — Memes Degrade The Imagination

Fall Semester 2021

• Disputation CCXL: 12/1/21 — Technological Advancement Is The Key To Human Flourishing
• Disputation CCXXXVIX: 11/17/21 — The Art Basel Banana Is A Work Of Art
• Disputation CCXXXVIII: 11/10/21 — There Is A World Beyond Our Senses
• Disputation CCXXXVI: 10/20/21 — Forget The Children
• Disputation CCXXXV: 10/7/21 — The Novel Is Our Greatest Tool For Unifying Culture
• Disputation CCXXXIV: 9/29/21 — You Have A Moral Duty To Vote
• Disputation CCXXXIII: 9/15/21 — The Death Penalty Is Never Justified
• Disputation CCXXXII: 9/9/21 — Craft Your Beliefs Through Conflict

**disputations for Academic Year 2020-2021 are currently being archived, and will be made available on this page soon**

Academic Year 2019-2020

Spring Semester 2020

• Quarantine Colloquium 4: 4/23/20 — Consider States of Exception 
• Quarantine Colloquium 3: 4/9/20 — Seek the Knowledge of Good and Evil
• Quarantine Colloquium 2: 4/2/20 — Humanity Needs World Government
• Quarantine Colloquium 1: 3/26/20 — Forum on Photography
• Disputation CCXV: 2/27/20 — The Elgin Marbles Belong to Greece
• Disputation CCXIV: 2/20/20 — We No Longer Need Religion 
• Disputation CCXIII: 2/13/20 — Pornography Harms Society
• Disputation CCXII: 2/6/20 — Kill Our Heroes 
• Disputation CCXI: 1/30/20 — Believe in Meritocracy

Fall Semester 2019

• Disputation CCX: 11/21/19 — Transcend this Corporeal Rind
• Disputation CCIX: 11/14/19 — Seek To Travel
• Campus Event: 10/29/19 — Is Tolerance A Virtue?
• Disputation CCVIII: 10/24/19 — Consider Transracialism 
• Disputation CCVII: 10/10/19 — The Constitution is a Living Document
• Disputation CCVI: 10/3/19 — Automate Everything 
• Disputation CCV: 9/26/19 — No Art is Off Limits
• Disputation CCIV: 9/19/19 — We Flourish Best in Isolation
• Disputation CCIII: 9/12/19 — Colonize the Galaxy

Academic Year 2018-2019

Spring Semester 2019

• Disputation CCII: 4/18/19 — Society Needs Noble Lies
• Disputation CCI: 4/11/19 — Dissolve the Union 
• Disputation CC: 3/28/19 — Bowdoin College Needs the Peucinian Society
• Disputation CXCIX: 3/7/19 — Colleges Should End Racial Preferences in Admission
• Disputation CXCVIII: 2/28/19 — Marriage Damages Society
• Disputation CXCVII: 2/21/19 — Artificial Intelligence Can Achieve Personhood 
• Disputation CXCVI: 2/14/19 — Never Mind the News
• Disputation CXCV: 2/7/19 — States Should Recognize a Human Right to Migration
• Disputation CXCIV: 1/29/19 — Belief in a Human Soul Enriches People’s Lives

Fall Semester 2018

• Disputation CXCIII: 11/29/18 — We Should Dismantle Categories of Identity
• Campus Event: 11/15/18 — Human Nature Forum
• Disputation CXCII: 11/8/18 — I Would Want to Live in a World Without Suffering
• Disputation CXCI: 10/25/18 — Think of the Children!
• Disputation CXC: 10/18/18 — I’d Rather Be a Cog in Some Great Machine than a Snowflake
• Disputation CLXXXIX: 10/11/18 — Social Protest Should Always Be Non-Violent
• Disputation CLXXXVIII: 9/27/18 — Artistic Expression Must be Central to a Liberal Arts Education
• Disputation CLXXXVII: 9/20/18 — The Written Word is the Most Powerful Tool for Social Change
• Disputation CLXXXVI: 9/13/18 — The Well-Informed Should Have a Greater Voice in Government
• Disputation CLXXXV: 9/6/18 — Strive for a Life of Leisure

Academic Year 2017-2018

Spring Semester 2018

• Disputation CLXXXIV: 5/3/18 — Compulsory Military Service is Immoral
• Disputation CLXXXIII: 4/19/18 — Nature is Ours for the Taking
• Disputation CLXXXII: 3/29/18 — Social Media Platforms are Undermining Democracy
• Disputation CLXXXI: 3/1/18 — Conventions of Politeness Enrich Human Relationships
• Disputation CLXXX: 2/22/18 — The Western Canon Should Be Fundamental to a Liberal Education
• Disputation CLXXIX: 2/15/18 — Consider Non-Monogamy
• Disputation CLXXIX: 2/15/18 – CLXXIX Terms
• Disputation CLXXVIII: 2/8/18 — We Have an Obligation to Raise Children
• Disputation CLXXVII: 2/1/18 — We Ought Strive for Greatness in Our Lives

Fall Semester 2017

• Disputation CLXXVI: 12/6/17 — Become a Vegetarian
• Disputation CLXXV: 11/30/17 — Repeal the Second Amendment
• Disputation CLXXIV: 11/16/17 — Capitalism is Unjust 
• Disputation CLXXIII: 11/9/17 — Whilst Shame Keeps Its Watch, Virtue is not Wholly Extinguished from the Heart
• Disputation CLXXII: 11/2/17 — A Liberal Arts Education Ought Prepare us for Service to Society
• Disputation CLXXI: 10/19/17 — Embrace Domestic Surveillance
• Disputation CLXX: 10/12/17 — Live Forever
• Disputation CLXIX: 9/18/17 — Take Down the Confederate Monuments
• Disputation CLXVIII: 9/21/17 — Gender Roles Benefit Society
• Disputation CLXVII: 9/14/17 — We Have the Right to Die
• Disputation CLXVI: 9/7/17 — Disregard Physical Beauty

Academic Year 2016-2017

Spring Semester 2017

• Disputation CLXV: 5/4/17 — Nations Should Expect Assimilation from their Immigrants
• Disputation CLXIV: 4/20/17 — Work Hard, Play Hard
• Disputation CLXIII: 3/30/17 — The College Ought to Enforce a Strict Social Code
• Disputation CLXII: 3/2/17 — We Should Liberate Ourselves From the City
• Disputation CLXI: /2/23/17 — Psychology Ought to Supplant Philosophy in Our Lives
• Disputation CLX: 2/16/17 — The Internet Has Tainted Our Sense of Wonder
• Disputation CLIX: 2/9/17 — Religion Strengthens Democracy
• Disputation CLVIII: 2/2/17 — Political Correctness Advances Social Justice

Fall Semester 2016

• Disputation CLVII: 12/1/16 — We Can Live Without Tradition
• Disputation CLVI: 11/17/16 — Humility is a Virtue
• Disputation CLV: 11/10/16 — America is Exceptional
• Disputation CLIV (0.5): 11/3/16  — We Ought Genetically Engineer Our Children
• Disputation CLIV: 10/20/16 — The Works of Art Offer Greater Inspiration than the Works of Nature
• Disputation CLIII (0.5): 9/29/16 — The Hookup Culture is Good for Bowdoin
• Disputation CLIII: 9/22/16 — Democracy is Overrated
• Disputation CLII: 9/15/16 — Great Leaders Need Not Ground their Decisions in Morality
• Disputation CLI: 9/8/16 — Reverence for the Law Ought be Our Political Religion

Academic Year 2015-2016

Spring Semester 2016

• Disputation CL: 5/5/16 — Voting is Sufficient For Good Citizenship
• Disputation CXLIX: 4/21/16 — Kill Our Heroes
• Disputation CXLVIII: 4/14/16 — To Thine Own Self Be True
• Disputation CXLVII: 3/10/16 —We Ought to Strive for More than Earthly Pleasures
• Disputation CXLVI: 3/3/16 — Humanity Needs Myths
• Disputation CXLV (0.5): 2/25/16 — Quality Should Outweigh Quantity of Life
• Disputation CXLV: 2/18/16 — Usage Ought Determine Meaning in the English Language
• Disputation CXLIV: 2/4/16 — Elected Representatives Ought to Obey their Conscience over their Constituents

Fall Semester 2015

• Disputation CXLIII: 12/3/15 — Society Needs Noble Lies
• Disputation CXLII: 11/19/15 — We Ought Defy Human Nature
• Disputation CXLI: 11/12/15 — The College Ought Restrict Identity Demeaning Speech
• Disputation CXL: 11/5/15 — The State has a Responsibility to Accept Refugees
• Disputation CXXXVIX: 10/22/15 — We Ought to Get Married
• Disputation CXXXVIII (0.5): 10/8/15 — The Earth Belongs to the Living
• Disputation CXXXVIII: 10/1/15 — The Privileged Ought Quietly Listen
• Disputation CXXXVII: 9/24/15 — Personal Technology Harms out Relationship with the World
• Disputation CXXXVI: 9/17/15 — Democracies Should Embrace State Paternalism

Academic Year 2014-2015

Fall Semester 2014

• Round Table Discussion: 12/11/14 — A Liberal Arts Education Ought Prepare us for Service to Society.
• Disputation CXXX: 12/4/14 — Capital Punishment Is Justified in a
  Democratic Society.
• Disputation CXXIX: 11/20/14 — Man Has a Duty to Nature.
• Disputation CXXVIII: 11/13/14 — Honor Thy Mother and Thy Father.
• Disputation CXXVII: 11/6/14 — We Cannot Be Ourselves in Isolation.
• Disputation CXXVI: 10/16/14 — I’d Rather Be a Cog in Some Great Machine than a Snowflake.
• Disputation CXXV: 10/2/14 — Shame is a Greater Motivator than Glory
• Disputation CXXIV: 9/25/14 — Political Parties are Disadvantageous to
  Society.
• Disputation CXXIII: 9/18/14 — Art is For The Artist.
• Disputation CXXII: 9/11/14 — All Is Fair In War.

Academic Year 2013-2014

Spring Semester 2014

• Disputation CXXI: 3/27/14 — The pen is mightier than the sword.
• Disputation CXX: 2/27/14 — Bowdoin’s academics are improved by identity studies.
• Disputation CXIX: 2/20/14 — Enter the academy.
• Disputation CXVIII: 2/13/14 — The great leader need not be morally good.
• Disputation CXVII: 2/6/14 — We ought to transcend human nature.
• Disputation CXVI: 1/30/14 — ‘Tis better to laugh than to cry.

Fall Semester 2013

• Disputation CXV: 12/5/13 — Hell is other people.
• Peucinian Forum: 11/21/13 — The life of Don Juan is better than the life of Socrates.
• Disputation CXIV: 11/7/13 — Fiction is more enlightening than non-fiction.
• Disputation CXIII: 10/24/13 — Cultural diversity is good for our democracy.
• Disputation CXII: 10/17/13 — Humility is a virtue.
• Disputation CXI: 10/3/13 — It is better to live in the city than the country.
• Disputation CX: 9/26/13 — Democracies ought to enforce justice beyond their borders.
• Disputation CIX: 9/19/13 — Science disenchants nature of its beauty.

Academic Year 2012-2013

Spring Semester 2013:

• Disputation CVII: 4/4/13 — Humanism ought replace religion as a common source of morality.
• Disputation CV: 2/7/13 — It is better to be a jack-of-all-trades than a master of one.
• Disputation CIV: 2/7/13 — We should have the right to bear arms.
•  Disputation CIII: 1/31/13 — Whether our professors ought provide answers or pose questions only

Fall Semester 2012:

• Disputation CI: 11/15/12 — Martyrdom is Noble.
• Disputation C: 11/8/12 — Bowdoin College Needs the Peucinian Society
• Disputation XCIX: 10/25/12 — The World Needs America
• Disputation XCVIII: 10/18/12 — Artists should be attentive to the political ramifications of their work
• Disputation XCVII: 10/11/12 — Historical consciousness doth make cowards of us all
• Disputation XCVI: 10/4/12 — Work hard – play hard
• Disputation XCV: 9/27/12 — Do unto others as you would have them do unto you
• Disputation XCIV: 9/20/12 — Resolved: The great books must be central to the American liberal arts education
• Disputation XCIII: 9/13/12 — Resolved: Voting is sufficient for good citizenship

Academic Year 2011-2012

Spring Semester 2012:

• Disputation XCII: 4/19/12 — Resolved: ‘Tis better to give than to receive
• Disputation XCI: 4/12/12 — Resolved: Contemplation of man must begin at the “State of Nature”
• Disputation XC: 3/28/12 — Resolved: We must preserve the Union
• Disputation LXXXIX: 2/29/12 — Resolved: The Common Good is an integral facet of a liberal arts education

Academic Year 2009-2010

Spring Semester 2010:

• Disputation L: 02/04/10 — Resolved: The search for the Common Good is enriching liberal education at Bowdoin College
• Disputation LI: 02/11/10 — Resolved: The Green Movement is a threat to our liberty
• Disputation LII: 02/18/10 — Resolved: All atheism leads to the crisis of nihilism
• Disputation LIII: 02/25/10 — Resolved: National identity is an elevating force in society
• Disputation LVI: 04/08/10 — Resolved: Humans should strive for utopia

Fall Semester 2009:

• Disputation XL: 09/24/09 — Resolved: The “Psychopharmacological Revolution” is making us happier
• Disputation XLII: 10/08/09 — Resolved: There is no such thing as a noble lie
• Disputation XLIII: 10/16/09 — Resolved: Religious faith is an obstacle to intellectual freedom
• Disputation XLIV: 10/22/09 — Round Table Discussion
• Disputation XLVI: 11/12/09 — Resolved: Bowdoin should adopt gender-neutral living facilities
• Disputation XLVIII: 12/10/09 — Resolved: The rise of the internet has been to the detriment of artistic genius

Academic Year 2008-2009

Spring Semester 2009:

• Disputation XX: 01/29/09 — Resolved: Israel is a legitimate nation
• Disputation XXI: 02/05/09 — Resolved: Liberate humans from gender
• Disputation XXII: 02/12/09 — Resolved: Nation states should devolve more power to international bodies
• Disputation XXIII: 02/19/09 — Resolved: The works of art incite more curiosity than the works of nature
• Disputation XXIV: 03/05/09 — Resolved: It is possible for excessive laughter to yield cultural decline
• Disputation XXV: 04/02/09 — Resolved: Social democracy would strengthen America
• Disputation XXVI: 04/09/09 — Resolved: All consensual sex is moral
• Disputation XXVII: 04/16/09 — Resolved: Humanitarianism corrupts American liberals

Fall Semester 2008:

• Disputation XV: 09/11/08 — Resolved: Too many of us are choosing financial careers
• Disputation XVI: 09/18/08 — Resolved: The War in Iraq is a failure
• Disputation XVII: 10/24/08 — Resolved: Science impoverishes our souls
• Disputation XVIII: 11/13/08 — Resolved: Popular Music Inspires Good
• Disputation XIX: 11/20/08 — Resolved: The quest to save the environment ought to replace religion as the goal to unify culture

Academic Year 2007-2008

Spring Semester 2008:

Disputation VIII: 01/31/08 — Resolved: Man must be forced to be free
Disputation IX: 02/14/08 — Resolved: Violence is always evil
Disputation X: 02/28/08 — Resolved: Federalism has outlived its usefulness to America
Disputation XI: 03/27/08 — Resolved: Secularization is bad for America
Disputation XII: 04/10/08 — Resolved: The 1960s were a disaster
Disputation XIII: 04/17/08 — Treatises for Guardianship
Disputation XIV: 05/01/08 — Resolved: Men can be happy without government

Fall Semester 2007:

Disputation I: 9/13/07 — Which should assume preeminence, justice or greatness?
Disputation II: 9/27/07 — Are state governments necessary?
Disputation III: 10/11/07 — Free trade v. fair trade and the consequences of neo-liberalism
Disputation IV: 10/21/07 — Guest Lecturer Mr. Bruce C. Clark of The Economist
Disputation V: 11/08/07 — Should the nation-state gradually devolve powers towards international organizations and authorities
Disputation VI: 11/15/07 — Power in the executive (in America)
Disputation VII: 11/29/07 — The merits of feminism and gender equality