Where does the phrase “play devil’s advocate” come from?

Among the favorite expressions of the French, one of them is quite explicit, colorful and popular: “Being the devil’s advocate”.

It is used quite frequently when one has to defend someone or a cause that is difficult to defend, considered bad, shocking, or at least contrary to that of the majority.

“Being the devil’s advocate”it is therefore bringing to the table arguments contrary to what most people think, sometimes including yourself, knowing full well what you are exposing yourself to, such as strong reactions from our interlocutors at the risk of shocking…

An expression that comes from the Church

In the ecclesiastical milieu, at the 16^e century, ” Devil’s advocate “the “advocatus diaboli”, in fact designated the cleric who, during the study which preceded the canonization of a person (process by which a person is declared a saint), look for anything in his behavior that could show the influence of the devil.

His role was therefore to look for the “bad deeds” that this person may have committed in his past, and to question his merits.

Devil’s Advocate, God’s Advocate…

Any individual destined to become a saint must indeed have led a blameless life (and have performed miracles). Opposed to “devil’s advocate”, “God’s Advocate”was responsible for proving that a person had indeed lived a life in accordance with the standards of the Church, and that he had realized two miracles.

The function of “devil’s advocate” was replaced in 1983 by that of “promoter of justice”, at the instigation of the pope John Paul IIbut the expression has endured.

By analogy, to be ” Devil’s advocate “it is therefore to defend ideas considered to be “bad”, or not commonly accepted.

Was this article helpful to you? Note that you can follow Actu in the My Actu space. In one click, after registration, you will find all the news of your favorite cities and brands.