Difference between revisions of "Devil's advocate"
m (better cat) |
|||
| Line 3: | Line 3: | ||
Originally, devil's advocates were appointed by the [[Roman Catholic Church]] to argue against the [[canonization]] of individuals <ref>http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01168b.htm</ref>. The post was abolished by Pope [[John Paul II]], allowing him to create and [[beatification|beatify]] an unprecented number of [[saint]]s during his pontiffship. | Originally, devil's advocates were appointed by the [[Roman Catholic Church]] to argue against the [[canonization]] of individuals <ref>http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01168b.htm</ref>. The post was abolished by Pope [[John Paul II]], allowing him to create and [[beatification|beatify]] an unprecented number of [[saint]]s during his pontiffship. | ||
| − | A fictional example of a | + | 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>http://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 == | ||
Revision as of 22:22, April 9, 2008
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.
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 unprecented 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
- ↑ http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/1200 Text of Gargantua and Pantagruel at Project Gutenberg.