What does it mean?
2006-09-30 23:02:17 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Social Science ➔ Other - Social Science
It is a phrase used to describe people who uphold the wrong side of an argument just for the sake of argument.
2006-09-30 23:11:20 · answer #1 · answered by storm 1 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Being 'The Devil's Advocate' simply means to argue against a popular view in a discussion, therefore taking a controversial standpoint.
It's origin is from when a Canon Lawyer in the Roman Catholic Church opposed the canonization of a candidate. Devil's Advocate is from the Latin 'advocatus diaboli'.
2006-09-30 23:21:29 · answer #2 · answered by JENNY G 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
"Playing devil's advocate" is when one takes the unpopular side in an argument, for the sake of examining all possible perspectives, or perhaps simply because they enjoy being contrary for its own sake.
So let's say you have a room full of people discussing a controversial issue like, say, capital punishment (that is, the death penalty). Let's say that everyone in the room is strongly opposed to the use of capital punishment. One person might stand up and say "well, just to play devil's advocate here, ______" in in the blank, insert an argument in favor of the death penalty, even though everyone in the room is against it.
An advocate is one who advocates - who speaks in favor of one thing or another. And well, the devil is the devil, a symbol for evil. So the devil's advocate advocates the unpopular view point, usually seen at least as wrong, or, in some cases, downright evil.
I hope this helps.
2006-09-30 23:11:32 · answer #3 · answered by Daniel 5 · 10⤊ 0⤋
There are two answers to this one.
Firstly, it originated within the Catholic church. The Devil's Advocate or Advocatus Dioboli was a canon lawyer appointed by the church to argue against the canonization of any candidate [sainthood]. It was his job to be completely sceptical about everything...to look for holes in the evidence...so that all aspects were investigated thorougly before a person was proclaimed a saint or martyr.
Secondly, it just simply means someone who just takes the worst side just for the sake of argument.
2006-09-30 23:16:01 · answer #4 · answered by jt1isme 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
What Does Devil Mean
2016-12-16 13:48:39 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To ask the question that makes people examine the negative side of a situation or to consider a negative outcome from your actions.
A ten pointer there surly
2006-09-30 23:05:27 · answer #6 · answered by simon1840i 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
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RE :What does "devil's advocate" mean?
What does it mean?
2 following 11 answers
2017-04-07 02:32:56 · answer #7 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What Does Advocate Mean
2016-06-25 12:34:37 · answer #8 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sympathy for thr Devil
2006-09-30 23:07:23 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 5⤋
means the devil is alwayzz there to hide his mistakes from himself
2006-09-30 23:48:31 · answer #10 · answered by sez 2 · 0⤊ 5⤋