“Civilised debate.” What does that really mean? The Pope is of the view that no-one should be allowed to insult someone else’s religion, or else fear for the consequences. That is certainly true.

We abhor cartoons, slogans, or writing attacking Christianity; the same applies to Islam. It is wrong, and it should not be allowed. But it does not justify the kind of violence we have seen in recent weeks. No civilised person – Christian or Muslim – would say that it does.

Indeed, all that it has led to is a perfectly justified outcry at an apparent attempt to prevent freedom of speech, which is a basic prerequisite of civilised debate. That has led to blatant repeats of the original insult in order to defy the critics and censors.

And it achieves nothing at all, except a furtherance of the original uncivilised behaviour. “If you punch me, I’ll punch you back – and harder” is the old playground taunt. It is fair, but it does not de-escalate the punch-up.

The ancient Greeks knew the value of civilised debate conducted under strict rules. The peripatetics marched up and down either side of a high wall offering thesis and antithesis in the hope of creating synthesis. St Thomas Aquinas perfected the model in medieval times; it is still practised today in dramatic format with shouts and mystical hand-gestures in Buddhist monasteries.

Parliamentary debate may not be as fine as it once was. 24-hour rolling media, Twitter and the end of good classical education has dealt it various blows; but the principles of civilised debate are epitomised in our procedures.

The Leaders’ Debates in the last General Election were quite different. They glorified the personality of the leaders at the expense of reasoned debate.

The same applies to Prime Minister’s Question Time, which is a bit of theatrical fun once a week, but which has lost any real meaning.

I would prefer to see both abolished in favour of true reasoned debate, and wholly support David Cameron’s argument that they most only go ahead if all of the parties are represented at them. The Greens are polling ahead of the Lib Dems at the moment, so why should they be excluded?

I very much look forward to local ‘hustings’ meetings during the General Election campaign, the first of which is already being planned in Malmesbury. Their aim is to add to the sum total of human knowledge; not just to knock spots off the other candidates.