debate-coach

An MCP server that trains critical thinking by making students argue both sides of any topic, catching logical fallacies in real time, scoring argument quality, and teaching the difference between an opinion and a reasoned position.

The Dream

A 16-year-old says "I think social media should be banned for under 18s."

Instead of agreeing or disagreeing, the AI says: "Interesting. Make your case — give me your 3 strongest arguments."

The student argues. The AI rates each argument:

• "Argument 1: solid (evidence-based)."
• "Argument 2: weak (anecdotal, logical fallacy: hasty generalization)."
• "Argument 3: strong."

Then: "Now flip sides. Argue against your own position as convincingly as you can."

This is how lawyers are trained. This is how scientists think. This is how good citizens reason.

What It Does

1. Argument Quality Scoring (0–10 per argument)

Each argument is scored on four dimensions:

• Evidence (0–3): Factual backing — studies, data, expert consensus
• Logic (0–3): Soundness — no fallacies, valid reasoning
• Relevance (0–2): Does it actually support the proposition?
• Originality (0–2): Nuanced insight vs. generic platitude

2. Real-Time Logical Fallacy Detection

Detects 20 logical fallacies including:

• Ad hominem, straw man, false dichotomy
• Slippery slope, hasty generalization, appeal to authority
• Post hoc (correlation ≠ causation), cherry picking, and 12 more

3. Steel-Manning

After you argue your side, the AI presents the strongest possible opposing argument — not a strawman. This prepares you for the flip challenge and teaches genuine intellectual honesty.

4. Mandatory Flip-Sides Exercise

You must argue the opposite of your original position. This is the hardest and most valuable part. It teaches:

• Epistemic humility
• Understanding of opposing views
• How to construct genuinely compelling arguments you disagree with

5. 50+ Curated Debate Topics

Categories: Social/Ethical, Science/Environment, Politics/Policy, Philosophy/Values, Technology, Historical, Economics, Health

6. Progress Tracking

• Fallacy rate over time: "You used hasty generalization 8 times 3 weeks ago, 2 times this week"
• Average argument score trend
• Topics breadth
• Flip success rate

Installation

npm install -g @gonzih/debate-coach

Or use with npx:

npx @gonzih/debate-coach

MCP Configuration

Add to your Claude Desktop config (~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "debate-coach": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["@gonzih/debate-coach"]
    }
  }
}

Or if installed globally:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "debate-coach": {
      "command": "debate-coach"
    }
  }
}

MCP Tools

start_debate

start_debate({ profileId, topic?, position? })
→ { proposition, sessionId, instructions }

Start a new debate session. The AI frames your topic as a proper debate proposition.

submit_argument

submit_argument({ sessionId, argument })
→ { score, fallacies[], feedback, strengtheningSuggestion }

Submit an argument. Get scored on evidence/logic/relevance/originality and fallacy-checked.

get_steelman

get_steelman({ sessionId })
→ { steelman, keyCounterArguments[] }

After 3+ PRO arguments: see the strongest possible case against your position.

flip_sides

flip_sides({ sessionId })
→ { prompt, newPosition }

Switch to arguing the opposite side.

complete_debate

complete_debate({ sessionId })
→ { synthesis, scores, fallaciesDetected }

Finalize the debate and receive a synthesis of both sides.

build_argument

build_argument({ sessionId, thought })
→ { questions[], hint }

Argument Builder Mode: Socratic scaffolding for students who don't know where to start.

get_topic_list

get_topic_list({ category?, ageGroup?, difficulty? })
→ Topic[]

Browse 50+ curated debate topics.

get_progress

get_progress({ profileId })
→ { debatesCompleted, avgScore, fallacyTrend, improvementAreas, ... }

View progress over time.

get_fallacy_guide

get_fallacy_guide({ fallacyType? })
→ Fallacy guide or specific fallacy detail

Learn about the 20 logical fallacies the system detects.

Debate Flow

start_debate
    ↓
submit_argument  ×3-5  (PRO phase)
    ↓
get_steelman           (see opposing case)
    ↓
flip_sides             (switch positions)
    ↓
submit_argument  ×3-5  (CON phase)
    ↓
complete_debate        (synthesis + scoring)
    ↓
get_progress           (track improvement)

The Socratic Method Connection

Socrates never stated opinions — he asked questions until his interlocutors discovered contradictions in their own positions. The elenchus (cross-examination) was designed not to teach facts but to develop the capacity for rigorous thinking.

debate-coach uses the same approach: it doesn't tell you what to think, it forces you to defend what you think — and then defend the opposite.

Debate Formats Supported Conceptually

Lincoln-Douglas (LD) Debate

One-on-one. Values-focused. Emphasizes philosophical and ethical clash. Perfect for the philosophical and policy topics in the topic list.

Structure adapted here: PRO arguments → Steel-man → CON arguments → Synthesis

Oxford-Style Debate

Motion-based. Audience votes before and after. The Oxford format's key insight: you must be able to articulate why the other side is reasonable before you can effectively argue against it. This is exactly what the steel-man step provides.

Karl Popper Format

Teams of three argue competing positions. Focus on cross-examination. The Karl Popper format explicitly teaches students to attack the strongest version of the opposition — which is the steel-manning principle.

Classroom Integration Guide

Individual Practice

Students use debate-coach independently to prepare for class discussions. The progress tracking helps teachers see who is improving.

Paired Debate Prep

Two students start debates on the same topic but opposite sides. They compare their steel-mans — seeing how well each predicted the other's actual arguments.

Flipped Classroom

Assign debate-coach sessions as homework. Class time is spent discussing: "What surprised you when you had to argue the other side?"

Formative Assessment

Use get_progress to track:

• Which fallacies students commit most
• Score improvement over the term
• Whether students attempt the flip challenge

Discussion Starter

After completing a debate session, share the synthesis in class. Use it as a jumping-off point: "The AI says the core tension here is X vs. Y — do you agree?"

Progress Data Storage

Debate history is stored locally in ~/.debate-coach/debates.db (SQLite). No data is sent to any server. API calls are made only to Anthropic's Claude API for AI-powered scoring and analysis.

Requirements

• Node.js 18+
• ANTHROPIC_API_KEY environment variable

License

MIT © Gonzih