Play Devil's Advocate
Devil's advocate is a way of challenging a position or perspective about a topic about which there is debate by arguing for something you do not necessarily agree with.
Steps
- Get into a conversation with someone. It can be anyone; friend, foe, random person, but make sure they at least know who you are so they don't think you're some weirdo trying to waste their time.
- Move onto a controversial topic, or a topic that people have strong opinions about. It must be a topic that has multiple sides to it.
- Argue for another side in the debate. You do not need to actually believe that this side has the best position in the debate. The point of playing devil's advocate is to help test another's position (or your own).
- Try to make the best case you can from the position you are arguing.
- Know what you are talking about. To effectively play devil's advocate, you must understand others' positions.
- Argue in good faith; don't lie or misconstrue what someone else is saying.
Tips
- Use this to teach people how to argue. Playing devil's advocate will keep making arguments the other person has to counter.
- You can use this in group situations to express an opinion contrary to the group's without being ostracized; you can say, "Let me play devil's advocate here, but I think. . ."
- Learning more about the topic helps a lot; if your arguments aren't strong, devil's advocate won't help as much.
Warnings
- Some people have very strong opinions about some subjects. Some are so strong they may choose to leave the argument. Don't make fun of them if they do this; it's just too close to them for them to be able to argue about it.
- Choose your debate partner and topic carefully. Some people enjoy a good intellectual debate, while others feel annoyed or exasperated when someone plays devil's advocate. Make sure that your partner will take it well.
- Don't resort to ad hominem, the act of attacking someone's character. Saying something like "Well, you're an idiot" isn't just mean, it's also not a legitimate argument.
- Be careful about debating other people's experience. For example, if a woman is talking about how people don't take her seriously or listen to her in her male-dominated workplace, responding with disbelief is a cruel thing to do; you'll be just one more person who refuses to take her concerns seriously. Don't use the devil's advocate position to tell people that their problems might not exist.
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