 Al-Fārābī comments that the rules of debate have been found useful for other purposes besides resolving differences of opinion. For example, in demonstrative science debate trains the participants to be nimble and systematic thinkers; it clears out of the way sophistical nonsense, and gives prima facie conclusions that can then be checked by demonstrative methods. In fact it’s not humanly possible to reach philosophical truth without engaging in debate. ([Debate] 29.21–38.3.) The relationship between questioner and responder can serve as a template for the relationship of teacher to pupil, so far as this is not simply passing information from teacher to pupil. It can also be a basis for collaborative research. ([Demonstration] 77.1–83.9.)