# 59 Can I Be the Devil's Advocate ?

In the Weekend Ka War episode of Bigg Boss 19, a strikingly gentle moment appeared amid the chaos. While consoling Ashnoor, actor Gaurav Khanna asked —

“Ashnoor, can I be a Devil’s Advocate?”

At first the phrase sounds dramatic, even sharp. But its real meaning is far from negative. This post explains the phrase in simple terms for general readers, explores its legal origin and use, and provides a short moot-court scene that shows how a Devil’s Advocate functions in practice.

What it means for a general reader

To “be a Devil’s Advocate” is to deliberately take the opposite side of an argument — not to attack someone, but to help them see gaps or blind spots in their thinking. In everyday life a Devil’s Advocate challenges a view kindly so the person can think more clearly and strengthen their position.

When Gaurav asked Ashnoor that question, he wasn’t being harsh. He was offering a different perspective — a compassionate way of helping her examine her feelings and the situation from another angle.

Origin of the Phrase “Devil’s Advocate”

The phrase “Devil’s Advocate” comes from the Latin term advocatus diaboli, which translates to“advocate of the devil.” The phrase is not meant to be taken literally — it does not describe someone who supports evil. Instead, it began as an official role within the Roman Catholic Church.

When the Church considered declaring someone a saint, it followed a careful process called canonization. Two opposing roles played a part in this process:

• God’s Advocate (advocatus Dei) — presented the person’s good deeds, virtues, and any claimed miracles.
• Devil’s Advocate (advocatus diaboli) — challenged those claims by questioning the evidence, pointing out weaknesses, and raising doubts about the life or miracles attributed to the candidate.

This formal challenge was not meant to be hostile; it was a safeguard. The Church believed that only when a candidate’s virtues could stand up to rigorous criticism should they be declared a saint. In short, the Devil’s Advocate ensured the canonization process was thorough, fair, and unbiased.

Over time the phrase left its strictly religious setting. Today, a Devil’s Advocate is anyone who takes a skeptical or opposing stance — not to defeat an idea, but to test its strength and help reveal blind spots.

Legal perspective

In law, the idea is embraced as a tool for rigorous thinking: lawyers, judges, and students may take a contrary position to test the strength of reasoning, expose weak links in arguments, and improve the quality of decision-making. It is, in short, a device that safeguards truth through scrutiny.

Example: A short moot-court scene

Judge: Counsel for the petitioner, please begin your argument.

Petitioner’s Counsel (Aarav): My Lord, the restriction imposed by the university on students’ social media speech violates Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution — the right to free speech.

Judge: Very well. Respondent, your turn.

Respondent’s Counsel (Meera): My Lord, the restriction is reasonable under Article 19(2), as it maintains discipline and public order within the campus.

(Both sides finish their arguments.)

Professor (acting as Moderator): Good arguments. But before we conclude, I’d like someone to play the Devil’s Advocate — question both sides.

Riya (Devil’s Advocate):

• — Aarav, if every student freely criticizes university rules on social media, won’t that disrupt order and defame the institution?
• — Meera, if the university can silence online criticism, what stops it from silencing legitimate grievances too?

(The hall goes silent — both counsels realize gaps in their arguments.)

Why the example matters

In the scene above:

• Riya does not take a permanent position for or against either side — she tests both viewpoints.
• Her role is to reveal blind spots and prompt each side to tighten their reasoning.She acts as the Devil’s Advocate here, uncovering blind spots and weak links in reasoning.
• Aarav and Meera are real opponents — they genuinely defending their sides.
  Takeaway:

  “The Real Opponent fights to win the argument. The Devil’s Advocate fights to strengthen it.”

  Life lesson

  Whether in TV conversations, friendships, classrooms, or courtrooms — a Devil’s Advocate is not necessarily negative. Often, the person who questions you does so to help you think harder and arrive at a truer conclusion. If offered kindly, such questioning is a gift.

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  Today, we unraveled the true meaning of a phrase often mistaken for something negative — “Devil’s Advocate.” 😈

  Don't let tricky terminology slow you down. Keep browsing the blog for more essential vocabulary guides and usage tips!

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  Keep learning. Every word you understand strengthens your legal voice.

  
  

  ...Anupama Singh
  

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  Anupama Singh | Legal Blogger | Lawyer Lingo

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  #DevilsAdvocate #BiggBoss19 #GauravKhanna #LegalThinking #MootCourt #Reflections