ΦQ Quantum Philosophy Debate 2026

01 | Team lineups and roster changes

• Register 3–5 members and select three registered members for each match. The three speakers may change between matches.
• Confirm the team name, captain and full roster by the end of the November 8, 2026 captains’ meeting. Members generally cannot be added, removed or replaced afterwards. An existing member may take over the captain’s contact role, with notice to the organizer.
• If serious illness or injury, bereavement, a legal obligation or another documented major circumstance beyond the team’s control leaves fewer than three eligible members able to attend, apply promptly for an emergency substitute. Normally at most one substitute per team is permitted across the competition, solely to restore the minimum lineup and subject to organizer review. Tactical, ability-based or ordinary scheduling changes do not qualify.
• A substitute must meet eligibility requirements, must not be registered with another competing team, and must complete all consent documents before competing.

02 | Three-on-three debate and time signals

The format combines three-on-three debate with Deweyan public inquiry and an interdisciplinary Oregon-style approach. Main speaking, cross-examination, response and closing segments are generally three minutes each, with a three-minute break/discussion period. A complete match takes approximately 50–60 minutes. This describes timing, not the complete speaking order.

03 | Groups, advancement and tied records

Six teams compete in two groups, Φ and Q, with three teams each. Each team plays two round-robin matches, normally once on each side. The top two teams in each group advance to cross-group semifinals. Winners enter the championship final; semifinal losers share third place. There is no repechage. Groups and sides are assigned by the organizer; any swap at the captains’ meeting needs organizer approval.

1. Compare match wins first.
2. If only two teams are tied on wins, their head-to-head winner ranks higher.
3. If all three teams finish one win and one loss, or head-to-head results cannot separate them, compare their grade profiles.
4. If still tied, the group’s three judges review overall performance and rank teams by majority decision.
5. If the teams still cannot be separated, the conference chair draws lots publicly in front of the relevant team representatives.

A＋ > A > A－ > B＋ > B > B－ > C＋ > C > C－

Grades are not converted into a summed numerical score. Starting with A+, compare how many of each grade each team received. At the first grade where the counts differ, the team with more of that grade ranks higher.

04 | Judges and feedback

• Each of the two preliminary rooms has three judges; the final has three. Panels generally include philosophy, physics/technology and other interdisciplinary backgrounds. Names are announced at the venue on competition day.
• Judges use A/B/C grades with optional +/− signs and written comments. Each match includes public feedback. Afterwards, teams receive their own grades and comments, not their opponents’ complete judging records.
• Judges’ deliberations are not recorded, livestreamed or made public.

05 | When are official motions announced?

At the November 8, 2026 captains’ meeting, 14:00–16:00 Taipei time, all official group-stage, semifinal, final and human–AI exhibition motions are announced together for the first time, with their full explanations, groups, matchups and sides. The brief’s six topic areas and 24 sample motions are illustrations, not an official question bank or a limit on what may be set. Actual motions may be entirely different.

06 | The champion team and the human–AI exhibition

The champion selects three members from its registered roster; they need not be the same speakers as in the final. Both finalist teams should prepare both sides of the exhibition motion in advance. The exhibition does not affect the official championship or awards, and participating speakers receive participation certificates. The AI system, presentation and backup arrangements remain technical planning items; AI analysis is not a confirmed official judging vote.

07 | Preparation checklist

Before the captains’ meeting

Check eligibility, reserve the preliminary and final dates, and prepare the 3–5-person roster and consent documents. Practise defining concepts, giving reasons, questioning and responding without treating sample motions as predictions.

After the captains’ meeting

Confirm the official motions, explanations, matchups, sides and roster. Prepare both assigned group matches and, if you may advance, the semifinal, final and exhibition motions too.

During practice

Use the 2:30/3:00/3:30 signals to practise three-minute speeches and concise endings. Separate claims, reasons, evidence and inferences; take turns cross-examining and check whether answers address the question. This is practice advice, not an additional scoring standard.

Before preliminary check-in

Bring the original team form, individual personal-data and audiovisual authorizations, legal-representative consent for members under 18, and identification/enrollment evidence. A captain cannot consent for teammates. Advance uploads of scanned forms are not mandatory.

When using quantum concepts to discuss philosophy or society, distinguish experimental facts, inferences and metaphors. State sources and limitations so others can examine your reasoning. This is preparation advice, not an additional competition rule.