Are the world’s wealthiest shirking their responsibility to help sustain the societies that made them rich? SPEAKERS FOR THE MOTION Senator Christine Milne Dr Richard Denniss SPEAKERS AGAINST THE MOTION Dr John Hewson AM Greg Evans Professor Judith Sloane (5 Respondents)
Is speech truly free if any person or institution is deemed to be 'off limits'? To this day, the laws of most Australian states and territories continue to prohibit blasphemy. For example, in NSW a person may still be prosecuted for the... more (7 Respondents)
If there is a concern about creating a ‘level playing field’, then why not find safe ways to dope everyone? The use of performance enhancing drugs dates back to antiquity. Ancient Greeks and Romans used herbs and hallucinogens to give t... more (7 Respondents)
Are there more dangers in siding with the US than in standing alone? As the ‘Asian Century’ unfolds, many of China’s neighbours suspect that they are dealing with a proverbial ‘tiger in panda’s clothing’. Some are getting edgy and look ... more (1 Respondent)
Is Jack still as good as his master? National myths play an important role in defining aspirations – even if imperfectly realised. So it is in Australia. Some achievements—like the extension of full political rights to every citizen in ... more
We live in the foodie age – where celebrity chefs are the new rock stars and people enthuse on television about their dreams of one day working in a commercial kitchen. But while organic food is a must-have fashion accessory and glossy c... more (1 Respondent)
The plucky bravery of the ANZACs is one of our great national stories – it plays into our idea of who we are. But what does it say about us that one of the touchstones of our identity is based on a historic defeat? And why does a militar... more (4 Respondents)
These days, classrooms seem packed with children who report to the office to take medication at lunchtimes – or whose behaviour problems come with labels that didn’t exist when their parents were young. Kids who can’t sit still have ADHD... more
The digital revolution is counter-intuitive to copyright. Technological change is moving too fast for adequate laws to be implemented – and for affected industries to keep pace. The bottom is dropping out of the Hollywood box office, wh... more (1 Respondent)
Terra nullius was long ago exposed as a myth – and this was enshrined in law with the Mabo case in 1992. If we acknowledge that Australia was colonised on a lie, then what should we do about it? How do we compensate for that centuries-o... more
Stretch your ethical muscles on the themes of this years controversial IQ2 live debates. (4 Respondents)
In the past centuries we have seen the separation of church and state and the birth of the enlightened generation, we have seen kings and their empires fall, religions separate into smaller bodies and the preservation of war, promoted by... more (4 Respondents)
Intelligence Squared is the world's premier forum for debate and intelligent discussion. Thanks to our partnership with the Values Exchange (VX), the IQ2 Community can now engage with a richly featured suite of online tools designed to d... more (7 Respondents)
Should this be the step forward for nations to unite under one banner, or is it a step towards Armageddon. Is it a good or bad thing?
In a bid to combat crime, Britain has made a massive investment in closed circuit cameras – with as many as 4.2 million having been installed. Yet, the evidence suggests that this may have been for little benefit – with only 3% of stree... more (3 Respondents)