Difference between revisions of "Devil's advocate"
m |
DavidB4-bot (talk | contribs) m (→top: HTTP --> HTTPS [#1], replaced: http://www.gutenberg.org → https://www.gutenberg.org) |
||
| Line 5: | Line 5: | ||
In the realm of [[philosophy]], a famous devil's advocate was Gaunilo, a monk who challenged [[Anselm of Canterbury]]'s [[ontological argument]] for the existence of God, arguing on behalf of "the fool". | In the realm of [[philosophy]], a famous devil's advocate was Gaunilo, a monk who challenged [[Anselm of Canterbury]]'s [[ontological argument]] for the existence of God, arguing on behalf of "the fool". | ||
| − | A fictional example of a devil's advocate is Panurge in [[Francois Rabelais]]' ''Gargantua and Pantagruel'',<ref> | + | A fictional example of a devil's advocate is Panurge in [[Francois Rabelais]]' ''Gargantua and Pantagruel'',<ref>https://www.gutenberg.org/etext/1200 Text of ''Gargantua and Pantagruel'' at Project Gutenberg.</ref> who argues (among other things) that it is good for him to remain in debt, it being better to give than to receive, allowing his creditors to gain merit thereby; moreover, his creditors pray for his continued well-being; moreover, that the very fabric of the Universe is held together by a cement of debt, etc. |
== References == | == References == | ||
Latest revision as of 15:19, September 26, 2018
A Devil's advocate (in Latin, Advocatus diaboli) is a person who takes a position for the sake of argument, rather than out of conviction. Often the purpose is to spur discussion on a topic, or to ensure that potential pitfalls are fully discussed, before a decision is made.
Originally, devil's advocates were appointed by the Roman Catholic Church to argue against the canonization of individuals.[1] The post was abolished by Pope John Paul II, allowing him to create and beatify an unprecedented number of saints during his pontiffship.
In the realm of philosophy, a famous devil's advocate was Gaunilo, a monk who challenged Anselm of Canterbury's ontological argument for the existence of God, arguing on behalf of "the fool".
A fictional example of a devil's advocate is Panurge in Francois Rabelais' Gargantua and Pantagruel,[2] who argues (among other things) that it is good for him to remain in debt, it being better to give than to receive, allowing his creditors to gain merit thereby; moreover, his creditors pray for his continued well-being; moreover, that the very fabric of the Universe is held together by a cement of debt, etc.
References
- ↑ http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01168b.htm
- ↑ https://www.gutenberg.org/etext/1200 Text of Gargantua and Pantagruel at Project Gutenberg.