Dialogue enlarges and possibly changes a participant's point of view. Debate affirms a participant's point of view. Dialogue reveals assumptions for reevaluation. Debate defends assumptions as truth . Dialogue causes introspection on one's own position.
Debate causes critique of the other position.
Dialogue opens the possibility of reaching a better solution than any of the original solutions. Debate defends one's own positions as the best solution and excludes other solutions. Debate creates a close-minded attitude, a determination to be right. Dialogue calls for temporarily suspending one's beliefs. Debate calls for investing wholeheartedly in one's beliefs .