From 48c968341d5751002c4c4046862d7d589f13325c Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: ida-ccc Date: Thu, 26 Feb 2026 10:18:33 +0800 Subject: [PATCH] Update devils-advocate.md --- _mental_models/devils-advocate.md | 57 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++---- 1 file changed, 51 insertions(+), 6 deletions(-) diff --git a/_mental_models/devils-advocate.md b/_mental_models/devils-advocate.md index 3a71725..2b583ea 100644 --- a/_mental_models/devils-advocate.md +++ b/_mental_models/devils-advocate.md @@ -2,19 +2,64 @@ layout: mental-model name: Devils Advocate benefit: Thinking from the opposing side -summary: Coming Soon +summary: By strengthening the opposing side, you increase intellectual humility and improve your decisions. prerequisites: --- -#### Description +## Description -Devil’s advocate position. This was once an official position in the Catholic Church used during the process of canonizing people as saints. Once someone is canonized, the decision is eternal, so it was critical to get it right. Hence this position was created for someone to advocate from the Devil’s point of view against the deceased person’s case for sainthood. +The Devil’s Advocate was once an official position in the Catholic Church during the process of canonizing people as saints. Once someone was canonized, the decision was considered eternal, so it was critical to get it right. Because of this, a person was appointed to argue against the candidate — to present the strongest case possible from the opposing side. -More broadly, playing the Devil’s advocate means taking up an opposing side of an argument, even if it is one you don’t agree with. One approach is to force yourself literally to write down different cases for a given decision or appoint different members in a group to do so. Another, more effective approach is to proactively include people in a decision-making process who are known to hold opposing viewpoints. Doing so will help everyone involved more easily see the strength in other perspectives and force you to craft a more compelling argument in favor of what you believe. As Charlie Munger says, “I never allow myself to have an opinion on anything that I don’t know the other side’s argument better than they do. +More broadly, playing Devil’s Advocate means intentionally taking the opposing side of an argument, even if you do not agree with it. + +One approach is to force yourself to write down the strongest arguments against your own decision. Another approach is to assign someone in a group to argue the counterpoint. An even more effective method is to include people who naturally hold opposing views in the decision-making process. + +This forces clearer thinking. It reveals blind spots. It strengthens your reasoning. + +As Charlie Munger said: +_“I never allow myself to have an opinion on anything that I don’t know the other side’s argument better than they do.”_ Excerpt From: Gabriel Weinberg. “Super Thinking.” iBooks. -#### Practice +## Practice + +1. Pick a belief or decision you strongly agree with. +2. Write down the strongest arguments against it. +3. Try to make the opposing side’s case as convincing as possible. +4. Do not mock it. Strengthen it. + +### Example-1 + +**Starting Your Own Business** + +Belief: “I should quit my job and start my own business.” + +Devil’s Advocate arguments: +- You may be underestimating the financial risk. +- Your current income provides stability you might regret losing. +- You may not yet have enough customers or market validation. +- The stress could negatively impact your health or relationships. + +### Example-2 + +**Working remotely** + +Belief: “Remote work is strictly better than office work.” + +Devil’s Advocate arguments: +- You may miss spontaneous collaboration and mentorship. +- Isolation could reduce creativity or motivation. +- Work-life boundaries may blur. +- Career growth could slow if visibility decreases. + +### Example-3 + +**Arguing with someone** +Belief: “I’m right in this disagreement.” -#### Example-1 +Devil’s Advocate arguments: +- You may be interpreting the other person’s intentions incorrectly. +- You might be prioritizing being right over preserving the relationship. +- There may be information you are unaware of. +- Your emotional state could be influencing your judgment.