What is argument debate?

Answer 1

I will do my best. I'm not sure if there is a such thing as THE debaters argument, but the way I know the phrase is from a Platonic dialogue called the Meno. In it Socrates discusses the nature of virtue, its definition, whether or not it can be taught, etc. At the beginning Meno claims to know what virtue is, but through a series of questions, Socrates proves that Meno does not. Once they both agree neither knows what virtue is, Socrates asks Meno whether or not he would be willing to inquire into the meaning of it with him. This is where the debaters argument comes in. Meno says to Socrates, how will you search for something you do not know? Even if you should find it, how would you know?

Socrates replies, saying (this is where the phrase is used) Meno, do you realize what a debaters argument you have brought up?

(so the debaters argument, at least in this context, is saying one cannot search for what he knows--he already knows it there is no need to search. And one cannot search for what he does not know because he does not know what to search for.)