Playing By The Rules Wins in 28th Annual Think-Off Debate
Dan Tschida of Minneapolis, MN is America’s Greatest Thinker for 2021
The Cultural Center in New York Mills announces Dan Tschida of Minneapolis, MN, as the winner of the 2021 Great American Think-Off, successfully arguing his position that playing by the rules is more important than winning.
The 2021 Think-Off question was “Which is more important: to win or to play by the rules?” Finalist Dan Tschida came out on top of the debate among four armchair philosophers in New York Mills, MN, during the 28th annual Think-Off on June 12, 2021. Tschida defeated AJ Gil of Atlanta, GA in the final round.
Gil first out-argued Angela Stehr of St. Paul, MN in Round 1, where both contestants were asserting that winning is more important than playing by the rules. Tschida had defeated Bill Sutherland of Eden Prairie, MN in Round 2, where both were arguing that playing by the rules is more important.
Throughout the debate, silver medalist AJ Gil returned to the point that the rules are made by those who have won, which supports his stance that winning is more important. Tschida shared his belief that fundamental human values are an overarching set of rules to follow even when man-made rules need to be changed.
In the final round, Tschida began by arguing that character is built by losing, and that sticking to your values and the rules is how you really win in life. Gil responded that character is defined by principle, and that following an unjust rule is not following your principles. Tschida later returned to this point, arguing that principles are rules, and thus following your principles, even if it means breaking an unjust rule, is still following the rules. Gil argued that fundamental principles are not absolute, and that we sometimes need to adjust our principles when looking at rules and whether they are unjust and need to be broken.
After an excellent debate, the audience had the challenging job of choosing the winner. The Cub Scouts collected ballots, votes were tallied, and the majority determined that Tschida best argued his position, and thus earned both the gold medal and the title of America’s Greatest Thinker for 2021.
Daniel Tschida has lived in south Minneapolis for the past 25 years with his wife (Karen Janisch) and two teenage daughters (Audrey & Elizabeth). For the past seventeen years, Tschida has been teaching social studies at Columbia Heights High School. Prior to that, Dan was a lawyer at a large Minneapolis law firm for 6-7 years. After law school, he clerked for a justice on the Idaho Supreme Court, a judge in Hennepin County, and a Magistrate Judge in U.S. District Court. Dan has a BA in history from Northwestern University in Illinois, a law degree from the University of Minnesota, and an education degree from the University of St. Thomas.
For more information about the Think-Off or this year’s debate, please call the Cultural Center at (218) 385-3339 or visit www.think-off.org.
About the Great American Think-Off:
Now in its 28th year, The Great American Think-Off is an exhibition of civil disagreement between powerful ideas being explored by everyday people. Designed to bring philosophy down from the ivory towers of academia and make it accessible for all, the contest has received national acclaim including coverage by C-SPAN, the New York Times, and The Today Show.
The Cultural Center, located in the rural farm and manufacturing town of New York Mills, Minnesota, sponsors this annual philosophy contest and encourages people of all ages and backgrounds to participate. The Cultural Center is a rural hub for creativity, community vitality, and lifelong learning in the arts. Since our incorporation in 1990, we have been passionate about connecting people to artists and rich cultural experiences in rural Minnesota, celebrating the local and being a window to the world.
To get a better sense of the Think-Off, find details, historical information, and a list of the past 28 years of questions and winners on the event website: www.think-off.org.
