The controversy is a debate or a dispute, which is conducted over a longer period of time. The issue of the controversy can be any nature, whereby it is not limited to a specific subject. Controversies can be conducted between two persons, certainly also privately, but also between groups or parties. If such a dispute occurs between large camps, this can lead to social unrest within the group. All media (literary works, films, etc.) can be controversially discussed. The concept is related to the dispute.
The term is derived from the Latin words contra and versus, which can be translated with opposite and directed. The expression therefore means something which is directed towards [which primarily means opinions]. It is typical, however, that such a debate does not necessarily lead to a conclusion, so in the rarest cases a final judgment accompanies the issue. Rather, the focus is on the subject of the subject, in order to illuminate this from very different standpoints. However, this sometimes creates a consensus or compromise.
In ancient rhetoric, the opinion prevailed that controversies, even if their contents were trivial, are a means of demonstrating the intellectual superiority to the opposite. Consequently, such disputes are not only debates about content, but also open up the possibility of proving the rhetorical skill (cf. Stilmittel) and the eloquence (language skills) of both sides.
Controversial topics
Certain topics have always been controversially discussed. This means that the views on a particular topic are diverging and there are several camps within the society that prefer one side or the other. There is rarely a correct or wrong view, but rather different possible points of view and opinions.
Examples include euthanasia, organ donation, homeopathy, Hartz IV, minimum wage or abortion, genetic research, vaccination, nuclear energy and study fees. These topics are intended to exemplarily illustrate that in such cases, there is rarely a final Either-Or, but rather different views and backgrounds, which constantly re-ignite the controversy.
As a final judgment on such questions is generally not possible, they often form the basis of the discussion, opinion and argumentation in the teaching of German. Here, the pupil’s task is to relate to an aspect or to explain the pros and cons of a question.
Controversy and controversy
Many early Christian writers are known to us as controversial theologians. The controversial theology deals with substantive questions concerning the internal and external nature of the church and is a manifestation in both the Protestant and the Catholic Church.
Controversy in this context means the discussion of different views, with delimiting or polemical intentions in the foreground, but can also critically highlight the weaknesses of one’s own attitude, thus expanding the essence of an ecclesial community and thus strengthening it.
Well-known controversial theologians are for example the church fathers Hieronymus (347 – 420) as well as Irenaeus (around 135 – 202). Both wrote numerous treatises which controversially discussed heretical doctrines (doctrine contrary to the doctrine of a Christian church). Their writings often bore an adversion in the title, which indicates that they are directed against something (for example, Adversus haereses).
Short overview: The most important part of the term at a glance
Controversy is the debate or the dispute on a particular issue, which is conducted over a longer period of time. Often, however, such topics do not lead to a final judgment and rather clarify the different points of view on the question.
Almost all topics can be controversially discussed. Nevertheless, there are certain topics which are always a source of debate. Following the view of the ancient rhetorician, the content of such an argument can be quite trivial, and then serves to demonstrate to the other the intellectual superiority.