Positions

This position holds that the Plague of Justinian was the worst pandemic in history. One of the earliest recorded, it argues the sixth-century outbreak killed 30–50 million people—the highest proportion of any pandemic—and helped bring about the fall of the Roman Empire.

This position holds that politics in comics is fine provided it does not override the history of the medium. It argues that political ideas, including greater diversity, are welcome when introduced thoughtfully — in a way that respects rather than rewrites the characters' established legacies.

This position holds that it was the Portuguese, not the British or Indians, who invented the Indian caste system. It argues that the system as we know it derives from a Portuguese labelling scheme — the word 'caste' itself coming from the Portuguese 'casta' — imposed on Indian society.

This position presents the post-Stratfordian view that the man from Stratford did not write the works bearing his name. It gathers the cases for alternative authors — Francis Bacon, Christopher Marlowe, the Earl of Oxford and others — citing gaps in his education, documentation and will.

This position holds that the Star Wars prequel trilogy is better than the sequels. It argues that the prequels tell a more consistent, coherent story, add far more to the saga's world and mythology, and have proven more iconic than the sequels that followed.

The princes' and their family understood the danger that the sudden death of Edward IV placed them in. Faced with the choice of either staying in power and living in fear, or fleeing for safety, the princes' could have either run away, or been hidden by their family.

Robert Stephens as Sherlock Holmes. Directed by Billy Wilder.

This position holds that the real problem with 'WAP' lies with its critics, not the song. It argues that those condemning it dehumanise Black women, engage in body shaming, and weaponise female sexuality rather than engaging with the music itself.

Democracy is the most humanitarian form of government, designed to promote equality and justice for all. These are the pros of democracy and why we should embrace it.

This position holds that publishing is an ideal career for English majors. It argues that their years of close reading, writing and grammatical precision equip them to work as editors — scouting, proofreading and advising authors — and even to become published writers themselves.

This position holds that the purpose of art is communication. Its arguments observe that people use art to tell stories from myth to everyday life, to advertise and market products, and to spread political and social messages that build consensus and drive change.

This position holds that the purpose of art is expression. It argues that art is how people give form to thoughts, ideas and identities not otherwise shared — satisfying a basic human instinct for harmony and balance, and offering a way to experience and reflect the universe.

Humans are capable of profound understandings of life and purpose. Philosophers and laymen alike believe the sole purpose of life is to live well and in happiness. A eudaemonic life, to reference Aristotle, is lived by simply flourishing in one's own means of virtue, goodness, and justice.

Procreation has been the driving force between human interactions for centuries. If people did not procreate, they would not exist. Therefore, the purpose of life is to procreate and continue giving life to future generations.

"Survival of the fittest" is a common phrase in the biology field. If humans are not intent on their survival, they will go extinct. Similar to other species, humans eat, drink, and avoid danger their entire lives to stay alive. People spend their days making sure they survive to live another day; that is the sole purpose of life.

Our actions are not directly linked to their biological purpose. Usually, we eat, drink, and have sex for pleasure rather than for survival and procreation. Therefore, life's ultimate purpose is to fulfil these desires.

Making others happy and reducing suffering should be the main priorities of human life.

This position holds that the purpose of prison is deterrence. It argues that the prospect of imprisonment stops people from committing crimes in the first place — that fear of the consequences keeps would-be offenders in check, preventing crime before it happens.

This position holds that the purpose of prison is incapacitation. It argues that prisons exist to restrict the freedom of dangerous people, protecting society by physically preventing known criminals from committing further crimes while they are locked safely away.

This position holds that the purpose of prison is rehabilitation. It argues that prisoners deserve second chances and should be prepared for return to society, that the system must address the root causes of crime, and that this serves everyone — especially minorities harmed most by incarceration.

This position holds that the purpose of prison is retribution. It argues incarceration should be an unpleasant experience that makes offenders pay for the harm they have caused, delivering justice to victims by ensuring wrongdoing meets a fitting penalty.

This position holds that the controversies over early and postal voting reveal a US democratic system at breaking point. It argues that fears of uncounted votes and fraud erode confidence, that slow counts risk electoral limbo, and that long queues amount to a form of voter suppression.

The everyday medical protocol in hospitals has established that a large number of tests be performed. Also, prescription drugs and premiums cost more due to monopolies or price manipulation. Hospitals explain that these prices help them provide exceptional care while patients argue that they are unnecessary and expensive.

This position holds that the ruins of Troy lie at Hisarlik in modern Turkey. It points to Heinrich Schliemann's 1870 excavations, which unearthed a citadel and the famed 'Priam's Treasure,' and argues the site matches Homer's description of the legendary city.

This position holds that the ruins of Troy lie at the ancient city of Pergamon, not the conventional site. Drawing on John Crowe's 'The Troy Deception', it argues that Hisarlik does not match Homer's description while Pergamon fits the Plain of Troy, and that the Iliad was later altered.

The disturbances in this period started in the Hittite empire and may have emerged from a power struggle in the region. Based on the etymology, there is good reason to believe at least some of the Sea People came from Anatolia.

Far from causing the Bronze Age Collapse, the Sea People were some of its victims. Loose confederations of pirates and raiders were forced into a life of crime due to the chaos of the Late Bronze Age. They represent no one nation or ethnic group, and no one cataclysmic event. A complex series of events in this period saw a sharp rise in opportunistic banditry.

Archaeological finds indicate turbulent events in the Balkans prior to the Bronze Age Collapse, possibly caused by movements of people from Eastern and Central Europe. Illyrian raiders may have filtered down into the Meditteranean displacing other groups in Greece and Anatolia, causing widespread banditry.