LydiaLe@UTS-Learning Arguments-Evidence and Intuition

Contentious Issues

A Contentious Issue - What is it about?

Let's start with the definition of these words:

Contentious /kənˈtɛnʃəs/ (adj)

This word is categorized as an adjective, and its meaning refers to causing or likely to cause an argument, a controversial disagreement, and or involving heated arguments. (Oxford Dictionaries, 2016; Cambridge Dictionary Online, 2016)

Issue /ˈɪʃuː/

In terms of the language explanation, the word "issue' is classified as a noun. When we talk about an issue, this issue refers to an important topic, and/or a crucial subject, and/or a problem for a formal discussion that ordinary people are thinking and talking about; also, it is most important in what is being discussed, disputed and argued. (Oxford Dictionaries, 2016; Cambridge Dictionary Online, 2016).

In a social viewpoint, on its webpage with the subject of our society, the Social Education Victoria (n.d.) states that an issue is a matter of concern or of interest; in order to find a better solution covering all different opinions on the issue, often distinguished people will raise, discuss or argue about this issue. For example, a current issue relating to our current 2021 timeline could be raised as follows: 'Why do a number of people not want to get Vaccine for COVID-19, while others do?"

The Simon Housego Contentious Issues

From my current understanding, Simon Housego is the author who has clearly established core features of contentious issues (CIs).

Underpinning the focus on learning this AEI subject [Arguments, Evidence and Intuition], Housego (2016) indicates key features of CIs and states that 'a Contentious Issue is an issue that arises in the development of proposals and policies for what governments and communities should do with the resources available to them.'.

From the above notion, in order to recognize and/or raise a contentious issue, the chosen topics need to include the issues linking toward

-the development of proposal and policies

-the decisions made by governments and/or communities

-the allocation of available resources

Examples of Contentious Issues include Global warming, Euthanasia, Abortion,