Debate: Are People Getting Dumber?
Sometimes when you turn on the TV, it's hard not to wonder: Is humanity devolving?

Claim: People are getting dumber
Reason: People tend to watch pointless entertainment.
Warrant 0: pointless entertainment allows the brain to relax too much
Warrant 1: pointless entertainment allows the brain to relax
Correct warrant: 0

Claim: People are getting dumber
Reason: In highly respected publications there are numerous errors.
Warrant 0: even the smartest people make typographical and grammatical mistakes
Warrant 1: only stupid people make typographical and grammatical mistakes
Correct warrant: 1

Claim: People are getting dumber
Reason: Without incentive, they don't want to learn anything other than what they have to.
Warrant 0: information is not readily available online and people often do not do their own research on topics to educate themselves
Warrant 1: information is readily available online and people often do their own research on topics to educate themselves
Correct warrant: 0

Claim: People are getting dumber
Reason: We are less informed and aren't motivated to be informed.
Warrant 0: intelligence is inherent and immutable
Warrant 1: intelligence is affected by how informed you are
Correct warrant: 1

Claim: People are getting dumber
Reason: People don't know any wiser and don't have standards to judge quality.
Warrant 0: society has always been this way
Warrant 1: society has not always been this way
Correct warrant: 1

Claim: People are getting dumber
Reason: Television and texting are disturbing brains at a young age.
Warrant 0: the same was not said of comic books in the 1940s
Warrant 1: the same was said of comic books in the 1940s
Correct warrant: 0

Claim: People are getting dumber
Reason: People are not using their intelligence to the best of his or her ability anymore.
Warrant 0: people just don't use their intelligence
Warrant 1: people just don't use their intelligence well
Correct warrant: 1

Claim: People are not getting dumber
Reason: People today lack common sense that cannot be taught.
Warrant 0: common sense has been in short supply since Eve
Warrant 1: common sense has not been in short supply since Eve
Correct warrant: 0

Claim: People are not getting dumber
Reason: In highly respected publications there are numerous errors.
Warrant 0: people can catch the errors in publications when they are reading
Warrant 1: people cannot catch the errors in publications when they are reading
Correct warrant: 0

Claim: People are not getting dumber
Reason: Technology and the economy have caused people to be less able to think for themselves.
Warrant 0: that saves our brain power to focus on more philosophical questions
Warrant 1: that drains our brain's power to focus on more philosophical questions
Correct warrant: 0

Claim: People are not getting dumber
Reason: People today lack common sense that cannot be taught.
Warrant 0: common sense does not equate to intelligence
Warrant 1: common sense equates to intelligence
Correct warrant: 0