No. 31 · Decisions · Sociology
Devil’s Advocate Position
An idea worth backing should survive someone arguing hard against it.
In the Almanac
“The Promoter of the Faith”, 1587 · “McKinsey”, 2021
Both stories in full, three ways to use it and where it misleads.
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Questions
What is Devil’s Advocate Position?
The devil's advocate position means arguing against a plan or belief on purpose, not because you oppose it, but to expose weak assumptions. The name comes from the Catholic Church official who argued against candidates for sainthood.
How do you use Devil’s Advocate Position?
Use it when stakes are high and agreement comes too easily. Assign the role, rotate it so no one becomes the permanent critic, and make the case against your own big decisions before you commit.
When does Devil’s Advocate Position matter?
Devil’s Advocate Position is one of the 35 mental models for decisions, the situations where you ask: Which way should I go? Within that, it belongs to “Committing, and when not to”, alongside Burn the Boats, Circle of Competence and Nuclear Option.
What is an example of Devil’s Advocate Position?
Two stories show it at work: The Promoter of the Faith (1587) and McKinsey (2021). Both are told in full in The Mental Models Daily Almanac, which has two stories for each of its 365 models.
Which mental models are related to Devil’s Advocate Position?
Black Box, Confirmation Bias and Inversion. Devil’s Advocate Position itself comes from sociology.