1) does competitive debate do a good job of truth seeking (and/or can it be reformed to do so). I’m with many commentators in that I suspect the answer is no. The format is just not suited to it.
2) do some of the skills of competitive debate aid in truth-seeking outside of such debates. Probably, but I suspect those skills come along with habits and attitudes that make them less effective in truth-seeking than if they were learned elsewhere.
There are two distinct parts to this.
1) does competitive debate do a good job of truth seeking (and/or can it be reformed to do so). I’m with many commentators in that I suspect the answer is no. The format is just not suited to it.
2) do some of the skills of competitive debate aid in truth-seeking outside of such debates. Probably, but I suspect those skills come along with habits and attitudes that make them less effective in truth-seeking than if they were learned elsewhere.