Devil's advocate
Meaning
Someone who takes an opposing viewpoint for the sake of argument, often to test the validity or strength of an idea rather than out of genuine disagreement.
Origin
Imagine a rigorous courtroom, not for criminals, but for potential saints. In 1587, Pope Sixtus V formalized a crucial role within the Catholic Church: the Advocatus Diaboli, or Devil's Advocate. During the intense process of canonization, this designated individual's solemn duty was to meticulously scour the life, virtues, and alleged miracles of a candidate for sainthood, specifically seeking out any flaws, inconsistencies, or reasons why they should not be canonized. Their job was to present the strongest possible argument against sainthood, thereby ensuring that only the truly deserving and unimpeachable individuals attained this revered status. This rigorous, adversarial process guaranteed an exhaustive scrutiny, and the phrase soon escaped its ecclesiastical confines to describe anyone who deliberately argues an opposing viewpoint to test the strength of an idea.
Examples
- During the board meeting, Sarah played devil's advocate to ensure all potential weaknesses in the proposed marketing strategy were thoroughly discussed.
- I'll play devil's advocate for a moment and suggest why your plan might encounter difficulties, just so we can anticipate any problems.