2006-07-25 14:54:11 · 12 answers · asked by Jason L 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
One who argues against a cause or position, not as a committed opponent but simply for the sake of argument or to determine the validity of the cause or position.
2006-07-25 14:59:04 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 13⤊ 1⤋
Devils Advocate Meaning
2016-09-28 21:05:13 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Legend has it that a man once lost his soul to the Devil and wanted to prove that he did not. The devil agreed to a trial. the man chose Daniel Webster as his advocate, one of the best advocates of his time. Naturally Webster had to face the "Devil's advocate". In the end Webster won the case on the strength of his arguments. So the devil's advocate has been from that day forward the person whose job it is to prove your arguments false. People play the devil's advocate to strengthen their own arguments before a trial.
2006-07-25 15:17:19 · answer #3 · answered by LORD Z 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
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Someone who presents the case for the least popular side of an argument is said to be acting as "the devil's advocate". An advocate is another term for a lawyer. Lawyers often are called upon to present the case for people who they otherwise would believe to be guilty. So anyone who is not really "deserving" of having someone on their side is thus a "devil" of sorts, maybe even you and I. Hopefully we will still have someone who will plead our case nevertheless.
2016-04-05 22:53:07 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
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what does the term "playing devils advocate" mean?
2015-08-16 16:01:04 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It means you take the opposing point of view in a discussion. The point of playing devil's advocate is to force the other person to see both points of view in a debate or discussion.
2006-07-25 14:58:06 · answer #6 · answered by Taffi 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Playing the bad guy for each side.
Example: if a pro-choice, pro-lifer are debating, the devils advocate, a third party, would tell go to each one seperately, and talk to him/her, and take the position against whoever they are talking too. This example isn't too good, but it can be used to open people's eyes, or just piss someone off, hence 'DEVILS advocate'
2006-07-25 14:58:56 · answer #7 · answered by blankshell44 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Devil's advocate is someone who plays the role of a devil. So devil's advocacy is the act of arguing an opposing viewpoint against an evil political regime, such as communism or absolutism/despotism. For example, the leader of such regime wants to eliminate or purge those who are against the regime by having his own persons, the devil's advocates, to stand out and criticize the regime in order to draw in those critical people.
2013-12-26 06:36:19 · answer #8 · answered by Van 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
"Devil's advocate" is when one argues a position not because they believe the position but for the purpose of challenging the opposite position. For instance, if someone believes in embryonic stem cell research, I might argue against that position in order to test their arguments in favor of the research.
2006-07-25 15:00:22 · answer #9 · answered by Charles D 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
"devils advocate" devil, meaning the bad side...advocating the wrong side.
2006-07-25 14:58:53 · answer #10 · answered by bushfan88 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋