Forum Entrance

From Wikireason

Welcome to Wikireason, a place where thinkers can gather their ideas and receive criticism from others. We are developing a collection of 65 arguments on all issues, from all perspectives, that will be accessible by everyone. This collection is in the form of a Wiki, rather than as a electronic mailing list or traditional Internet forum. The Wiki format takes full advantage of the structure of the World Wide Web, to make discussion much more productive than it can be in those traditional, linear formats. Any person may edit any of the discussions; you don't even need to register!

Notice: Wikireason is in its formative stages, so we're making some changes. Feel free to take part in developing debates or help us reach decisions on areas such as organization and copyright policy.

Culture

International Relations

Domestic Policy

Science and Technology

Prospective Issues

See discussion and suggestions for future topics.

Why a wiki format?

A major advantage of wikis is that the content of the Wiki can be edited repeatedly to improve clarity and completeness, and organized better than traditional, linear debate formats. Furthermore, it places the arguments in a timeless and impersonal framework. By separating the content from the person who created it, the Wiki allows readers to focus on the debates that interest them without being distracted by off-topic discussions, which can be moved to a separate page. In turn, this allows thousands to gather in one forum without their collective noise interfering with individual discussions.

How it works

At Wikireason, any discussion may be edited by any person, meaning that articles develop by a consensus process. Editors do not need to agree on the issue being debated, they just need to agree that the arguments given for or against the proposal are coherent.

Debates are centered around a proposition statement, which details a position on an issue. A treelike structure contains sections for and against the proposition, along with supporting evidence and counterarguments. See Project:Organization for active discussion on organization, or Affirmative action for an example of the latest proposal.

Community

A goal of this project is to build communities with common goals. Each registered user has a personal page, which may be used to express personal priorities. Users with similar priorities may form interest groups, which may produce platforms where they try to reach a consensus on their priorities.

Inspiration

This debate format is inspired by Wikipedia, an impressive free encyclopedia that takes advantage of the structure of the World Wide Web. A strength of Wikipedia is its great community. An equally productive community can be created here. Learn how to participate in a Wiki project with the Wikipedia tutorial.

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