Advocatus Diaboli

The Advocatus Diaboli was a former position in the Catholic church, and whoever played the role had the responsibility of casting doubt on the character of an individual who was on track for canonization. The role has come to be translated into English as an especially well known term: devil's advocate. When someone plays the role of devil's advocate, they attempt to rationalize and defend a position that is unpopular and that they may not agree with, however, the reason they do it is for the sake of a holistic understanding of any particular given situation. Playing devil's advocate will often land one in an unpopular position, I'm saying this from ample experience. The reason taking on this role has that affect, is that, in my opinion, people often fail to understand that the position you are attempting to understand, isn't necessarily one that you agree with. It's the same reason that defense attorneys are often reviled. Still, it's a vital role to fill and I've found that the best way to cope with the jeers that often accompany it is to remind yourself that you are in fact doing the right thing by providing the scenario where both sides of the story can be not only heard, but understood in their fullest extent possible. Recently I have found myself yet again in the position of Advocatus Diaboli. In the wake of another instance of police brutality, a series of riots broke out in Minneapolis. As always, many have been quick to condemn the actions as irrational and destructive. So many people are typing away analyses from their quiet suburban homes, looking down their noses at the actions of the rioters. It's understandable to greet such imagery with disgust. I'll admit that the sight of cars on fire and broken glass is unsettling, but when I see such things, I always try to take a quick breath before rushing to act on my impulse to condemn. It is in this instance where I have found myself attempting to understand the reason behind all of the violence, and after taking that aforementioned breath, it becomes clear. These are the actions of people who are at wits end. They have been calling for legitimate change seemingly forever, and yet the situation remains unconscionable. I ask myself what I might do if I were in such a position, and suddenly the actions become a bit more understandable. Keep in mind, I do not say reasonable, but understandable. If there is one thing I don't plan on doing, it's standing from my pedestal and decrying the actions of which motivation I have little understanding. Rather, I feel seeking to understand the cause, will more likely lead to a solution. That is what playing devils advocate is all about. Playing the role of devils advocate isn't defending the indefensible, it is defending objectivity, it's seeking truth, and there should be no shame in it. Quite the contrary, I see the role of devils advocate as something to take pride in. In literature, one of the most famous devil's advocates was Atticus Finch in Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird". What Atticus did in defending a black man accused of raping a white woman, was highly unpopular. Nearly the entire town of Maycomb, spurred on by Bob Ewell fanning the flames, was crying for blood and had allowed fear and prejudice to guide their actions rather than a pursuit of truth. Atticus maintained his focus on the truth no matter how many threats he recieved and this is why he is such an admired character in literature. Doing what is right is often unpopular. That's one of the central themes in To Kill a Mockingbird. It's a story largely about playing devils advocate but it illustrates quite elegantly why it is so crucial. To those who also tend to find themselves in the position of Advocatus Diaboli, just know that you are doing the right thing, and don't allow the confusion of others regarding where you stand to deter you from your pursuit of objectivity.