The cut and thrust of intellectual debate is pragmatically a good way to stimulate one’s mind on a subject. Unfortunately, you can only practice it if you disagree with someone of comparable intellect on the subject you want to think about. So what are you supposed to do when the only people of comparable intellect to you that you have handy agree with you, and naturally will not debate you? You take on the mantle of Devil’s Advocate, and create an artificial debate.
The cut and thrust of intellectual debate is pragmatically a good way to stimulate one’s mind on a subject. Unfortunately, you can only practice it if you disagree with someone of comparable intellect on the subject you want to think about. So what are you supposed to do when the only people of comparable intellect to you that you have handy agree with you, and naturally will not debate you? You take on the mantle of Devil’s Advocate, and create an artificial debate.