Debate: Money the root of all devil?

[Boyz_Zoo]

I totally disagree. Money is not the root of evil. It is the human who is the root of evil. Since ancient times, money was used to replace the barter system so that the exchange of stuffs can be more efficient. So, money is just the innocent thing use to do business with each other. However, human's greed for money cause a lot of chaos like bank robbery, kidnapping, swindling, corruption and many. So, don't put the blame on the money! Put the blame of the human!!!

[dreamer1210]

Originally Posted by Boyz_Zoo

I totally disagree. Money is not the root of evil. It is the human who is the root of evil. Since ancient times, money was used to replace the barter system so that the exchange of stuffs can be more efficient. So, money is just the innocent thing use to do business with each other. However, human's greed for money cause a lot of chaos like bank robbery, kidnapping, swindling, corruption and many. So, don't put the blame on the money! Put the blame of the human!!!

Yea, and human invented money as well.

[shinliang]

Originally Posted by youngyew

This cliche topic was featured in the final of the 国际大专辩论赛 (international university debate competition in chinese) in year 2001. UM team won the debate.

For those who can read Chinese, I strongly recommend the full script of the abovementioned debate:
http://blog.cfan.com.cn/html/56/324556-112809.html

lol. I was the first debater representing UM. This was the last thing I expected: someone referencing this 2001 match for discussion on whether money is the root of all evil.

Anyway, the actual quote should be "the LOVE for money is the root of all evil". Many people misquote it - leaving out the word "love".

From a very strict logical sense, I doubt that anything (including the love for money) can be the root of all evil. Evil is too diverse.

If the love for money is the root of all evil, then we can characterise or define evil by its link to money. Money, will be sort of like a litmus test for 'evil'. And clearly this is wrong and naive. In the 2001 international debate final, no one actually wanted to be the proposer - we all knew that the proposer will have an uphill battle, especially because it was the motion/title for the final.

However, for the purpose of a debate competition, one can argue that it is clearly not the responsibility of the proposer to prove that love for money is the root for ALL evil, since this will be unbalanced. Rather, the proposer will only have to prove that it is the root of many kinds/most types/complex types of evil. e.g. when we say everyone has a two legs, this is not true to the strictest sense, but still acceptable.

just some of my opinions...either way, i think the proposer is going for an uphill battle...good luck!