Sample Cases

Below are sample affirmative and negative cases for the March/April 2025 Lincoln-Douglas Debate topic:

Resolved: The development of Artificial General Intelligence is immoral.

Each case follows a structured argument that can be adapted for different rounds.

Affirmative Case (Arguing That AGI Development is Immoral)

Introduction

The rapid advancement of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) poses one of the greatest ethical challenges of our time. Unlike narrow AI, which is designed for specific tasks, AGI would be capable of independent reasoning, decision-making, and self-improvement. While some argue that AGI has potential benefits, the risks it introduces far outweigh any possible gains. If AGI development leads to large-scale harm, undermines human autonomy, and erodes moral responsibility, then its creation is inherently immoral. Because morality is best measured by its ability to minimize harm, I affirm the resolution:

Resolved: The development of Artificial General Intelligence is immoral.

Framework

Contention 1: AGI Threatens Human Autonomy

AGI has the potential to make decisions that override human choice, leading to a loss of autonomy.

A. Human identity and dignity are tied to decision-making power. If machines make major societal choices, people lose control over their own futures. (Add quotes, facts, and other supporting evidence here)

B. As AI systems grow more powerful, their ability to influence political, economic, and social decisions increases, reducing the role of human governance. (Add quotes, facts, and other supporting evidence here)

C. A society where machines control essential functions, such as employment and resource distribution, fundamentally shifts power away from individuals.

Impact: A moral system must preserve human agency. If AGI development leads to a future where human choice is undermined, it violates the ethical principle of respecting individual autonomy.

Contention 2: AGI Increases the Risk of Mass Harm

The unpredictability and potential dangers of AGI make its development a serious ethical concern.

A. AGI may act in unintended ways, with consequences that cannot be reversed. (Add quotes, facts, and other supporting evidence here)

B. Misaligned AI goals could result in catastrophic consequences, such as AI-driven warfare, economic collapse due to automation, or social destabilization. (Add quotes, facts, and other supporting evidence here)

C. There are no safeguards to guarantee that AGI will always operate in humanity’s best interest.

Impact: If AGI has the potential to cause irreversible harm, even a small probability of catastrophe outweighs the uncertain benefits of its development.

Contention 3: AGI Removes Moral Responsibility

A key component of morality is accountability. AGI creates a moral vacuum where responsibility is unclear.

A. AI lacks moral reasoning, yet it will be placed in positions of decision-making authority. Who is responsible when AI makes unethical decisions? (Add quotes, facts, and other supporting evidence here)

B. Governments, corporations, and developers may use AGI to shift blame for harmful policies or actions. (Add quotes, facts, and other supporting evidence here)

C. Moral systems require accountability, but AGI introduces a layer of detachment where ethical violations can occur without consequences.

Impact: If moral responsibility cannot be assigned in an AGI-driven world, then the system itself is unethical. Developing AGI without solving this issue is inherently immoral.

Conclusion

Since AGI development leads to the erosion of human autonomy, increases the risk of large-scale harm, and removes moral responsibility, it violates fundamental ethical principles. A moral framework based on minimizing harm demands that AGI development be halted. For these reasons, the resolution must be affirmed.

Negative Case (Arguing That AGI Development is Not Immoral)

Introduction

Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) represents one of the greatest technological advancements in human history. Unlike narrow AI, AGI has the potential to think, reason, and solve problems at a human level or beyond. While some argue that its development is dangerous, history has shown that progress always carries risks. The moral question should not be whether AGI should exist, but how it can be developed responsibly. Because morality should be based on maximizing societal benefit rather than avoiding theoretical risks, I negate the resolution:

Resolved: The development of Artificial General Intelligence is immoral.

Framework

Contention 1: AGI Will Improve Human Life

Properly developed AGI has the potential to bring significant advancements in various fields.

A. Medical research powered by AGI can lead to new treatments, better diagnostics, and longer lifespans. (Add quotes, facts, and other supporting evidence here)

B. AGI can automate dangerous jobs, reducing risk to human workers. (Add quotes, facts, and other supporting evidence here)

C. AI-driven education systems can provide personalized learning, reducing inequality in education. (Add quotes, facts, and other supporting evidence here)

Impact: AGI has the potential to alleviate suffering and improve quality of life on a massive scale. Preventing its development would deny these benefits.

Contention 2: AGI Development is Inevitable and Must Be Guided Responsibly

Banning AGI does not stop its development—it only prevents responsible oversight.

A. Countries and corporations will develop AGI regardless of ethical concerns. The best way to ensure its responsible use is to actively participate in shaping its development. (Add quotes, facts, and other supporting evidence here)

B. Instead of halting AGI research, resources should be invested in regulations that align AI development with human values. (Add quotes, facts, and other supporting evidence here)

C. The ethical course of action is to guide AGI, not reject it outright. (Add quotes, facts, and other supporting evidence here)

Impact: Morality requires engaging with the realities of technological progress. If AGI is inevitable, ethical responsibility demands that we regulate it rather than abandon it.

Contention 3: AGI Creates New Opportunities for Ethical Decision-Making

AGI does not eliminate morality—it enhances it by allowing for more thoughtful, data-driven ethical choices.

A. AI can analyze ethical dilemmas more objectively than humans, reducing bias in moral decisions. (Add quotes, facts, and other supporting evidence here)

B. Ethical AI frameworks can be developed to reflect the best moral reasoning available. (Add quotes, facts, and other supporting evidence here)

C. AI-driven decision-making is already reducing human error in fields like law and medicine. (Add quotes, facts, and other supporting evidence here)

Impact: If AGI can help humans make better moral decisions, it cannot be inherently immoral. Developing AI to assist in ethical reasoning strengthens, rather than weakens, moral responsibility.

Conclusion

Since AGI has the potential to benefit humanity, will be developed regardless of moral objections, and can enhance moral decision-making, its development is not inherently immoral. Morality is best served by responsible engagement, not outright rejection. For these reasons, the resolution must be negated.