DEVILS' ADVOCATE -ADVOCATUS DIABOLI
Research and presentation by RKT
SU-20_PSY3503-SA01A Cognitive Psychology - J. Matyas we studied Language and the connection to the cognition and the assignment was...
Week 5 - How to Turn a Phrase
Find and share your favorite idiom or turn of phrase (e.g., ‘as the crow flies’ or ‘kill two birds with one stone’).
Look into the origins of the phrase. Where did this first appear in culture?
Has the meaning of it changed over time, and if so, how? Does the phrase have a particular meaning to you personally?
Is there a specific context to this phrase that you feel would be missing or confusing to someone in another culture?
My answer and research is below for your education, elucidation, and evaluation
Richard Kerry Thompson
The Devil's Advocate (in Latin- Advocatus Diaboli)
by Richard Thompson - Thursday, June 4, 2020, 10:03 AMNumber of replies: 0The Devil's Advocate (in Latin- Advocatus Diaboli) is an idiom I grew up with and indeed use myself quite often. The origin comes from the process of the Roman Catholic Church of declaring a saint. The Devils’ Advocate (usually a lawyer) job was to argue against the canonization of the proposed candidate to justify the merits of the person and the possible sainthood.
It is said to first appear in culture in the 18th century as a common idiom in the public sector as a person who is contradictory to the topic at hand.
The meaning has not changed over time and has become a chosen way to challenge a decision to make sure all sides have been discussed and accounted for to have the best outcome.
This phrase has a very particular meaning to me personally, as I have come to appreciate the Devils Advocate in everything I do and decisions made. To look at the other side is the only way to truly make the best decision. In my professional career, I actually appoint someone on my staff to be the Devil's Advocate and challenge my decisions and ideas to get the best possible outcome without ego and emotion.
The context may be confusing to someone from another culture if indeed they do not understand the purpose and reason for the devil's advocate, and may think it evil because of the word devil or diaboli.
Richard
https://www.theidioms.com/devils-advocate/
242 words
Sum of ratings: -
Origin and history
During the canonization process employed by the Roman Catholic Church, the Promoter of the Faith (Latin: promotor fidei), popularly known as the Devil's advocate (Latin: advocatus diaboli), was a canon lawyer appointed by Church authorities to argue against the canonization of a candidate.
from - https://www.theidioms.com/devils-advocate/
DEVIL’S ADVOCATE
DEVIL'S ADVOCATE
MEANING | SYNONYMS
- ONE WHO PRESENTS A COUNTER ARGUMENT
- ONE WHO ARGUES AGAINST SOMETHING JUST FOR THE SAKE OF ARGUING, WITHOUT ACTUALLY BEING COMMITTED TO THE VIEWS
- ONE WHO PUTS FORWARD ARGUMENTS AGAINST A PROPOSITION, EVEN IF THEY MAY ACTUALLY AGREE WITH IT, SIMPLY TO TEST THE VALIDITY OF THE PROPOSITION
- SOMEONE WHO PRETENDS TO BE AGAINST AN IDEA OR PLAN THAT MANY AGREE WITH, SO THAT PEOPLE MAY DISCUSS IT AND CONSIDER OTHER VIEWS
- A PERSON WHO DISAGREES WITH OTHERS SOLELY FOR THE SAKE OF HAVING A DISCUSSION ON THE ISSUE
EXAMPLE SENTENCES
- I AGREE WITH WHAT YOU SAY, BUT I'LL PLAY DEVIL'S ADVOCATE SO THAT WE CAN COVER ALL THE POSSIBILITIES THAT MAY ARISE.
- HE OFFERED TO PLAY DEVIL'S ADVOCATE AND ARGUE AGAINST OUR CASE SO THAT WE COULD FIND OUT ANY FLAWS IN IT.
- THE SCHOOLMASTER OFTEN PLAYED DEVIL'S ADVOCATE WITH HIS STUDENTS SO THAT THEY COULD HAVE AN INTERESTING DISCUSSION AND LOOK AT OTHER POINT OF VIEWS.
- THE PLAN IS GOOD, BUT I'LL PLAY DEVIL'S ADVOCATE SO THAT WE KNOW WHAT THE OPPOSITION CAN SAY.
- THE DEFENCE LAWYER PLAYED DEVIL'S ADVOCATE, EXPLAINING THAT THE TRUTH COULD BE THE OPPOSITE OF THE WAY IT LOOKED, BUT THE JUDGE WASN'T HAVING IT.
- IF YOU DON'T PLAY DEVIL'S ADVOCATE TO TEST YOUR OWN IDEAS, YOU WILL NEVER KNOW IF THEY STAND UP TO SCRUTINY.
- PLAYING DEVIL'S ADVOCATE TO EVERY DETAIL OF THE PLAN IS THE ONLY WAY TO ENSURE THAT YOU ANTICIPATE PROBLEMS BEFORE THEY OCCUR.
- I AM SICK OF YOU PLAYING DEVIL'S ADVOCATE WITH EVERYTHING I SAY - YOU ARE JUST DOING IT TO BE ARGUMENTATIVE.
ORIGIN
DURING THE CANONIZATION (DECLARING THAT A PERSON, WHO HAS DIED, WAS A SAINT) PROCESS OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, AN OFFICIAL WAS APPOINTED TO ARGUE AGAINST THE CANONIZATION OF THE PROPOSED CANDIDATE. THIS IS DONE TO PROPERLY JUSTIFY THE MERITS OF THE CANDIDATE. THIS OFFICIAL WAS KNOWN AS THE DEVIL'S ADVOCATE.
SOURCE: THEIDIOMS.COMWhat does playing the devils advocate mean?
What does playing the devils advocate mean?
play (the) devil's advocate
What is Devil's Advocate example?
What is Devil's Advocate example?
Example Sentences
Where did the phrase Devil's Advocate come from?
Where did the phrase Devil's Advocate come from?
The term 'Devil's advocate' was brought into English in the 18th century from the medieval Latin expression 'advocatus diaboli'. To describe someone as a Devil's advocate now is to suggest that they are mischievous and contradictory, being contrary for the sake of it.
Is devil's advocate a good thing?
Is devil's advocate a good thing?
But, when done right, playing devil's advocate can not only help advance your own ideas, it can build trust and strengthen your relationship with colleagues and help you all reach a better solution to the problem at hand—all without actually being evil.
How to Play the Devil's Advocate (Without Being Evil)
So you’re brainstorming with some colleagues, and a new idea is put on the table. An idea that, let’s just say you aren’t exactly loving.
This is a delicate endeavor. Voice your opinion too fervently, and you risk offending your colleagues or squashing a good idea that could develop later. But, say nothing, and the idea could easily veer way out into left field—leaving feelings intact, but also leaving you worried about the fate of your team or company.
In these types of situations, it’s no surprise most of us hedge our feedback by blaming our favorite red-tailed villain before voicing our opinion, starting the conversation with, “I’m just playing devil’s advocate.”
And yes, that little devil can be your friend—if you know how to use him. After all, being the dissenting voice your team needs requires a bit more strategy than a one-liner. So here are a few guidelines for playing devil’s advocate—without coming across as an evil mastermind.
Know When to Play the Part
If Hollywood has taught us anything, it’s that you don’t mess with the Prince of Darkness unless you’re prepared to handle the consequences. Before you can play devil’s advocate in the office, you first need to seriously consider whether or not it’ll be worth it. There are some situations where no amount of help—nefarious or otherwise—will do anything but piss off your colleague. Playing the other side with your boss, for example, should be approached with extra care (and I don’t recommended it for novice debaters).
So before you engage the strategies below, first consider the worst-case scenario. How receptive is this colleague to feedback, based on past experience? Is she likely to go completely off the rails when she realizes you’re poking holes in her idea? How might your challenge impact your working relationship with her or with your team? And what will your boss think when he or she hears about it? Try to imagine how the conversation could go wrong, and weigh that against the importance of the topic at hand.
If you do decide to play devil’s advocate, then your next step isn’t to say anything—it’s to to start listening.
Listen
Before you can justify disagreeing with someone’s idea, let her fully lay it out for you first. That means: Sit down, pay attention, and make sure the idea-sharer knows you’re hearing her. Establishing that connection reinforces respect, and will make your colleagues much more receptive to feedback later on.
As you’re listening, try to find ways you actually agree, whether it’s in process or intent. Finding any common ground will help soften any feedback you give later on, and show that you’ve taken the time to consider the idea from every angle.
Just think like your eighth-grade English Lit teacher told you, and tell yourself there are no dumb ideas. At least—not at first.
Test in Real Life Situations
Even if you’re positive an idea has no legs, the person sharing it obviously thought it did, so after you’ve heard all the nitty-gritty, ask how the plan would play out in real life.
For example, if someone has an idea to increase productivity by corralling the team into a communal table in the middle of the office, ask how certain aspects of business would be impacted by the change. What happens if a client calls and the rest of the team is in the midst of a heated debate? What about confidentiality and privacy?
By allowing your colleague to walk you through her vision of how various real situations would be handled, you not only confirm that she’s considered those potential snags (or not) but you allow her the chance to discuss the challenges without coming right out and telling her you don’t agree.
Also, don’t forget to keep an open mind during this stage. Playing the devil’s advocate to someone else’s ideas also means you need to apply the same standards to your own. Give ideas an honest chance, and test out your own assumptions, too. You just might discover that the idea has merit, after all.
Stay Positive
French poet Charles Baudelaire once wrote, “The devil’s finest trick is to persuade you that he does not exist.” That’s pretty much what you want to accomplish if you’re playing the part yourself. That means, even as you’re disagreeing with someone, you should keep your tone positive and encouraging, and try to emphasize that your goal is to address the problem as a team—not just to shoot down an idea.
Practically speaking: Before you give your feedback, try to find something meaningful (but not too benign) about the idea and comment on that. This is where having that common ground comes in handy. For example, if you were trying to persuade the CEO of Yahoo! not to force all the staff working remotely to give up their freedom and work at the corporate headquarters (hypothetical, of course), you could point out that you “appreciate the sentiment behind having the entire team under one roof to help foster collaboration.” Then proceed. Make it clear you’ve listened to the idea with an open mind, and she’ll be much more receptive to your point of view.
Don’t Beat a Dead Horse
That said, once you’ve made your point, don’t dwell. If everyone has come to your way of thinking as a result, fantastic, but nobody appreciates a gloater. If, however, you’ve failed to sway everyone in the room, the same strategy applies. Give it a rest and let everyone marinate on the topic for a while before bringing it up again. Remember, if you haven’t convinced them yet, hearing your thoughts seven more times probably isn’t going to do the trick. You’ll need a much stronger argument—or to simply admit defeat. (Unfortunately, you can’t win them all.)
Whether you believe in a red-faced villain with horns and a tail or not, when it comes to playing devil’s advocate, the mayhem that could ensue if you don’t play the part with care is as real as your paycheck, and it should be handled with that in mind. But, when done right, playing devil’s advocate can not only help advance your own ideas, it can build trust and strengthen your relationship with colleagues and help you all reach a better solution to the problem at hand—all without actually being evil.
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Further usage within the context of College...
FA-20_IDS1011-WA01B Vocation & Practice - B. Langeland
“We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies.”
by Richard Thompson - Wednesday, November 18, 2020, 7:41 PMNumber of replies: 0“We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies.”
This weeks’ reflection, introspection, and challenge to be that of a democratic person of goodwill, offers much to think about not to judge anyone but own self.
What was the historical context of Abraham Lincoln's statement?
The connection of the article from Biden to Lincoln is that of the context of forgoing a possible decimation of democracy, to be quite blunt. In Lincoln's case, it is the precipice of the Civil War as the speech is said to have happened on March 4, 1861, and the Civil War began on April 12, 1861, and dreadfully carried on until May 13, 1865. (Note: depending on who you speak to the war is still happening, yet that is another conversation) It must be understood that the 2nd Lincoln inaugural address happened on March 4, 1865, this was right before the Civil War ended. “called for a new beginning after a time of extreme division.”
Connecting to Biden's speech and the division America is in today as Trump who refuses to live the essence of Democratic Charity for the greater good of the American people and pass the torch, is one reason for many that Biden connected to Lincoln's speeches of the division of the North and the South.
What would it take for you to break off the community with someone?
What would it take for me to break off the community with someone, is more of the reverse of the community breaking off from me! The concept of justice, cognitive distortions, and false accusations would be one reason on my part and literally has been. It is indeed a terrible thing to be banished so to speak so the person does it before the group at hand does it to them. I have never broken off from a community I will have and have faced the challenge with an open mind and fierce conversation (Fierce meaning honest) yet once a person is set in their thinking even if a cognitive distortion of reality it is difficult to change. Thus, I continue to be a man of hope and reconciliation, not just forgiveness.
What would it take to welcome them back?
What would it take to welcome them back is a great question as it means that each party wants to go back? First, the EGO of each party must be erased and the greater good of the relationship outweighs the dissonance of the furry. Thus, connecting to Lincoln's address on March 4, 1861, “We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies.” To take them back means that they were totally gone from my heart, mind, and soul, if they were I would welcome anyone back into my life who has left all it takes is an ethos of HUMILITY. AS Biden said in his speech on November 7, 2020… “Give each other a chance”
What value can you see in having others of differing views in your community?
This question above is indeed a sign of an ignorant person if it even has to be asked. I say this because having the Advocatus Diaboli, Devil's Advocate is the only way to see all sides and not just our own egotistical view. Just as in the massacre that happened at the Bay of Pigs with President Kennedy, the story is that everyone agreed with John and was afraid to go against him because he held the title of president. Even though they had until that proved the president's decision wrong. The Devil's Advocate of Differing views as this question states is crucial for the best decision to be made. (Please see my research on the Advocatus Diaboli here in this link for further elucidation. https://www.smore.com/ya8ux-devils-advocate-advocatus-diaboli
Thus, the value I see in having others differ from my views is the greatest gift any person or leader can have. However, it takes a person of great self-efficacy and confidence to admit they need others, most leaders do not, the few that do truly have a lasting impact for the greater good. I strive to be of that concept. The quote... “We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies" is so very poignant to claim its impact even further.
How does that affect how you view the country's current climate?
This question is indeed almost futile as my views of how I view the value of others' opinions will never change the country's climate! I can only change myself and my own circle of influence and servantship. It takes all people to create that ripple effect. The reality is, we live in a divided country today as perhaps we did in Lincoln's time, only time will tell what will happen when the current president either lives up to the essence of democratic charity and empowers America to be that of Humility or rise up against our own ethos of what this great country was founded on. “Democratic charity is different. It doesn’t start with an unequal relationship. Instead, it reflects the idea that in a democratic society we are equal. And all citizens are both givers and receivers.”
As for me and my house, I will serve the Lord and that of striving for humility.
Richard
https://www.loc.gov/wiseguide/mar04/enemies.html
http://www.mrlincolnandfriends.org/opponents-and-enemies/
https://www.smore.com/ya8ux-devils-advocate-advocatus-diaboli