Devils Advocate – Meaning, Origin & Usage
The phrase “devil’s advocate” is a very common one in the English language, but you may be interested to learn that the phrase also appears in many other languages and cultures besides, including German, French, Spanish, Italian, and more. The tern frequently appears in the media, including in films across an array of genres, novels, and even song titles.
Non-natives and youngsters may not always be familiar with the term, which can often lead to uncomfortable conversations. However, this article is here to prevent that by explaining exactly what is meant by the phrase, and the way in which it’s designed to be used. We will also cover how the term originated, and instances of use of the term throughout the entertainment industry. By the end of the article, you’ll feel like an expert on the subject.
And without further ado, let’s get straight to it.
Understanding the term “devil’s advocate” – what does it mean?
In simple terms, the phrase “devil’s advocate” refers to someone who intentionally takes the opposite side of a popular opinion or idea in order to encourage thought, debate and discussion.
When sonmeone is “playing devil’s advocate” this doesn’t necessarily mean that they agree with what they are about to say. People often decide to play “devil’s advocate” simply to provide another side to a story or option. However, this is not always clear, which can lead to confusion. This is why many people state something along the lines of “just to play devil’s advocate” before they provide an unpopular opinion.
The historical, religious origins of the term “devil’s advocate”
The term “devil’s advocate” comes from the New Latin “advocatus diaboli” and was first used by the Roman Catholic church. Since the 1500s, the Catholic Church has had s set procedure for a person’s canonization, that is the official admission of a dead person into sainthood, or recognition as a holy person. There would be two representatives appointed to discuss the case for and against granting the sainthood
By the 1760s, the term “advocatus diaboli”, meaning devil’s advocate, was the title given to the official appointed whose job it was to argue the case against the sainthood.
Shortly afterward, use of the term “devil’s advocate” evolved to incorporate anyone who argues against an idea to spark a debate and to test it. The first time it was used in this
modern form was in a humorous text titled Impostors Detected, published in 1760
Significance and value of playing the “devil’s advocate” in modern everyday discussions
Perhaps one of the most typical times that someone takes the role of devil’s advocate these days is in TV talking shows, when a debate is being held, and someone on the show, whether on a panel, in the audience, or even the host, may put forward an unpopular opinion in order to get a reaction form someone and to entertain the public watching at home.
Topics of intense debate that often benefit from someone playing devil’s advocate include abortion, capital punishment, assisted dying, enforced conscription to armed services, and many more. When laws are being decided, it is valuable to know both sides of an argument, through someone playing devil’s advocate, in order to ensure that laws are just and are as ethical as possible.
In democratic societies, there is often debate about issues, and depending on your particular political allegiance, you might see the party in power as sharing the popular opinion over policies, and the opposition party as the “devil’s advocate” or vice versa.
Similarly, a lawyer may decide to play “devil’s advocate” in their head, in order to know what their opponent might be thinking, and how they might play their hand in court. This way the lawyer can think several steps ahead, and prepare to address any counter arguments they may face,
There is much value to be had in open discussion and debate, with someone taking on the role of devil’s advocate in everyday life, because it helps those taking part or listening to see the bigger picture, or at the very least two sides of something. It exposes flaws in arguments, and encourages critical thinking. It is often necessary to distance yourself from something in order to ascertain the best possible course of action when problem solving.
Playing the devil’s advocate effectively is about challenging ideas intelligently, with arguments against every counter arguement. It can often be enlightening to hear opposing point of views, as it sheds light one things which may have previously been overlooked.
Examples the term “devil’s advocate” in everyday use
People use the term devil’s advocate to describe someone who presents a counterarguement for something. In everyday conversations this may include debates on what restaurant to go to, what products to buy as a present for someone, or what foods to buy from the grocery store.
Here are some example sentences using the phrase:
- My friend always plays the devil’s advocate; she can never agree with me.
- Playing the devil’s advocate is immature, in my opinion.
- Henry played the devil’s advocate by arguing against wearing a seatbelt.
Variations of the term and comparable alternative phrases
There are many variations of the term and similar alternative phrases that you could use in it’s place. For example, someone who plays the devil’s advocate may also be referred to as a:
- Contrarian
- Debater
- Disputant
- Arguer
- Mediator
- Critic
- Apologist
- Pleader
- Defender
- Polemicist
If you wish to play the role of “devil’s advocate” in a conversation or debate, without using the term, you might begin by saying something along the lines of:
- Just to see things from the other side of the argument…
- But, on the other hand, what about…
- Success requires knowing the enemy and what they might think/say about this…
Common misinterpretations of the term
While the term “devil’s advocate” is usually used to refer to the immoral point of view, there may be those who genuinely side with the so called “devil’s advocate” and therefore don’t consider their point of view to be immoral in the first place.
To state which side of an argument is played by the “devil’s advocate” is to remove one’s self from a neutral position, and to declare what side you are on.
In other words, on occasion, if not frequently, someone might be described as a “devil’s advocate” even if their point of view has considerable popularity with much of the general population. For this reason, there are often misrepresentations of the term.
When someone presents an opinion which differs from those around them, they may not necessarily see themselves to be playing the “devil’s advocate” when they are really merely expressing their own personal point of view.
Playing the devil’s advocate has also been classed by some as gaslighting, or in other words psychological manipulation that hinges on creating self-doubt.
Examples of the phrase in use in film, music, and other media
There was a film titled Devil’s Advocate in the horror/fantasy genre in 1997 starring Al Pacino, Keanu Reeves and Charlize Theron. The film is an adaptation of the book The Devil’s Advocate by Andrew Neiderman published in 1990. It’s about a lawyer who becomes consumed by his work while his wife begins to suffer from visions and nightmares.
Other books titled (The) Devil’s Advocate, include those written by Morris West, Andrew Neiderman, Iain Morley, and Taylor Caldwell. Each of these works reflects a distinct interpretation of the concept of a “devil’s advocate,” varying from legal guides to theological and political fiction
There have also been songs titled (The) Devil’s Advocate, including one sung by The Neighboorhood released in 2020, one sung by Danny Worsnop released in 2017, and one sung by Ricky Hill released in 2019.
Final word
So, to summarise, the phrase “devil’s advocate” is used to describe someone who intentionally takes the opposite side of a popular opinion or idea in order to encourage debate and discussion.
It’s a popular term across many languages, and it describes a role that can often be of utmost value for debates and discussions, especially when there’s an important, or significant decision to be made.
The term is centuries old, and is derived from the Roman Catholic religion. Since then, the term evolved, and today, the term is rarely used to refer to the devil, or anything of a religious nature. But that doesn’t ake away anything from the value of the role of devil’s advocate in provoking thought for important debatem discussions and especially decision making.
The term has achieved prominence among English idioms, and there have even been films, books and songs with the title “devil’s advocate”. Popular synonyms for the term “devil’s advocate” include debater, disputant, mediator, critic, apologist, and pleader..
The term is often heard on TV shows, such as dramas and soaps, and is heard on particular on TV talk shows. The phrase comes up frequently in everyday conversations, especially in the business of lawyers and politicians.
