Go to Hell

Picture the scene. You’re in the zone, having a discussion you feel strongly about. Perhaps it’s your position on climate change, or your (justified) preference for dogs over cats. You deliver a passionate, beautifully constructed argument. And then you hear it: “Okay, but just playing devil’s advocate here. . .”

Of all the ways people use rhetoric, the position of devil’s advocate must be among the most frustrating. It is a title assumed by those who want to advance an argument they are unwilling to endorse outright. In theory, this can be a good thing: Our position in a debate should be decided by facts, rather than the reverse. Thus, someone with little or no personal investment in their own argument may be able to provide valuable insight.