Your definition of debate isn't the one that is relevant to this conversation. We're not referring to speculative thought, we're referring to decision making fo

Your definition of debate isn't the one that is relevant to this conversation. We're not referring to speculative thought, we're referring to decision making for public policy. Scientists discuss, evaluate, question, and probe, not debate. True, the people who are scientists might debate from time to time, but that's not a part of the scientific process.