“In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock.”
Thomas Jefferson

The following principles form the bedrock of my vision for HealthyDebate.org, a platform dedicated to uncovering objective reality through civil, nuanced, informed, and constructive debate.

I believe in these values but hold them with humility. No one person has all the answers. In the spirit of HealthyDebate, these principles are open to challenge and improvement, and should themselves be debated, ensuring this remains a collective movement in the pursuit of truth.

1. To Seek Truth

Truth exists.

There is an objective reality, independent of our perceptions, beliefs, or ability to fully comprehend it. Our mission is to pursue this truth with both rigour and humility. Only by striving to understand reality as it truly is can we make informed decisions and chart the best path forward.

I take a positivist stance: we can understand reality through our senses, reason, and logic. The most powerful tools for uncovering truth are open debate and the scientific method — forming hypotheses, testing them through experimentation, refining ideas, and replicating results. This iterative process keeps us grounded in evidence and open to scrutiny.

While HealthyDebate will never act as judge, ranking systems will prioritize arguments grounded in clear evidence, logical reasoning, or testable claims over those that rely on emotional manipulation or obscure technical jargon. These criteria will be transparent, aligning with our commitment to impartiality and trust.

2. To Free Speech

HealthyDebate is committed to free speech expressed in good faith and with civility; the ultimate arena for the contest of ideas.

Echoing Justice Brandeis’s famous Supreme Court opinion, I believe that “sunlight is the best disinfectant.” Transgressive or extreme ideas may attract attention, but false or silly claims lose their allure when exposed to reasoned challenge and clear evidence.

Suppressing speech is a dangerous and slippery slope. Power must always be held accountable, yet that becomes impossible if it can silence its critics. Free speech ensures that critical voices can challenge orthodoxy and explore new ideas.

3. To Be Transparent

Moderation guidelines will be public. Unlike many platforms, HealthyDebate will notify users when content does not meet the standards to be published and provide an explanation of why.

Due to scale, initial moderation will rely on AI, with a fair and accessible appeals process for human review. For unresolved appeals that raise significant principles or broader questions, users may request a public debate to challenge the decision, ensuring transparency and improving the system itself.

4. To Be Impartial

To serve a broad audience, HealthyDebate must be absolutely, demonstrably, and clearly non-partisan.

The platform cannot be seen to tip the scales, prioritizing certain topics, viewpoints, or political ideologies.

Even the perception of bias would alienate some users, and give them an excuse not to engage. Not only would this deprive the community of partial truths worth exploring, but they may well be the people who most need their views challenged.

Moderation systems will be open source to demonstrate no algorithmic bias. HealthyDebate avoids employing a social-media-style “feed,” which inevitably ranks some content over others. Instead, users can easily browse and explore debates by topic, interest, or theme, with no hidden prioritization.

5. To Be Accountable

People (and institutions) should be accountable for their words, with corrections as visible as the original claims.

No more falsehoods on the front page followed by corrections in the fine print. Accountability requires transparency, traceability, and equal visibility especially in an era where reputations and realities can be shaped by a single headline.

6. To Be Accessible

No one holds exclusive access to truth. HealthyDebate will be open to all, regardless of background, title, or affiliation. There will be no gatekeeping, no credentials required to participate, only a commitment to evidence-based, respectful discussion.

• The platform will be free to use.
• It will support multiple languages to broaden participation.
• Accessibility tools will ensure ease of use for all, including people with disabilities.

7. To Be Civil

Constructive dialogue depends on civility. HealthyDebate fosters discussions that are respectful and grounded in evidence — productive rather than performative or divisive.

While we champion free speech, an absolutist position is unworkable. As Edmund Burke said: “Liberty too must be limited in order to be possessed.” One person shouting into a megaphone can drown out everyone else.

To balance openness with order, debates will follow clear, fair rules inspired by the Chicago Principles on free expression, much like a boxing match follows Queensberry Rules.

8. To Continuously Improve

Just as iron is forged into steel through fire, strong ideas emerge from challenge.

Ideas should be tested in the crucible of debate. Weak claims are discarded, and strong ones are tempered into something sharper, stronger, and more durable.

HealthyDebate will itself be subject to improvement. Processes, moderation systems, and features will evolve in response to user feedback, evidence, and the community’s own debates.

9. To Reward Merit

Meritocracy is a core principle. The value of an argument should not depend on its author’s title, status, or number of followers.

Debates on HealthyDebate will be judged on depth of research and quality of reasoning.
Author names and follower counts will be hidden during evaluation to eliminate bias and ensure fair ranking.

The platform rewards the best ideas, wherever they come from.

10. To Be Intellectually Humble

“I am the wisest man alive, for I know one thing: that I know nothing.”
— Socrates

No one holds a monopoly on truth, and no single person can see it all. The pursuit of truth is strengthened by diversity of thought and openness to being wrong.

This is not to say all ideas are equal. Some combinations, like copper and tin, form useful alloys. Or, like the carbon added to iron to create steel. But many mixtures yield little of value. Only through testing, through the crucible of critical debate, can we determine which ideas are worth keeping and which can be discarded.

HealthyDebate.org exists to bring people together in that crucible, ensuring voices from all walks of life are heard, and that the collective search for truth is accessible, civil, and ongoing.

The Roadmap

I do not want HealthyDebate to merely be an intellectual exercise. As a tech entrepreneur, I want to build it.

HealthyDebate.org is registered not-for-profit organization, incorporated in Delaware for First Amendment protections. It will apply for 501(c)(3) status so that donations are tax-deductible. And it will be crowdfunded to avoid even the perception of capture by special interests.

The public crowdfunding campaign hasn’t yet launched, that is intentional.

People are far more likely to support a mission that has momentum, credibility, and leadership behind it.

So before going public, the focus is on building a solid foundation by:

• Securing endorsements from respected voices across the political spectrum.
• Involving people with a proven track record managing successful ventures.
• Engaging influential voices who can help amplify the message.

Whether that means donating, constructively critiquing, or getting involved, every contribution counts.

But most importantly: Please share this. It’s the only way a spark becomes a wildfire.

Or at the very least, prepare your arguments. The debates that shape the future are coming.

Be part of the solution. Be seen to be part of the solution.

Support HealthyDebate.org