Debate Night: Good and Evil

“In heaven, all the interesting people are missing.” With characteristic sharpness, Nietzsche hinted at a long-standing tension in how humanity defines good and evil, not as universal truths, but as products of culture, power, and perspective. From ancient codes of law to the moral teachings of religion, we've built frameworks to distinguish the virtuous from the corrupt, the just from the wicked. Yet the source of these frameworks, whether divine, rational, or emotional, has always been up for debate.

Throughout history, religion has served as one of the dominant arbiters of morality, offering clear-cut definitions of good and evil. But as societies have secularized, those moral absolutes have blurred, giving way to legal systems, philosophical ethics, and even political ideologies. In an age of global crises and ideological polarization, the question becomes urgent: Are humans naturally inclined toward good, or do we need external systems, laws, institutions, perhaps even fear, to keep us in check?

Participants who wish to speak are strongly encouraged to bring a paper and pen.

You are welcome to participate even if you have no prior debating experience.