Idea- Using Contrary Opinions as a Group Rationality Exercise

Sometimes when I'm discussing issues one-on-one with someone of a different opinion, I will find myself treating arguments as soldiers (I am improving on catching myself in this, I think.). I can also have difficulties verbalizing what is wrong with an argument when put on the spot.

Maybe we can use "Devil's Advocating" posts as a group exercise in rationality. Someone can read or summarize a specific opposing viewpoint that they do not necessarily agree with (maybe subjectivism, or Kuhn's scientific revolutions). They could hopefully even get completely new material, in order to provide practice in a field we haven't discussed.

They will present the strongest summary they can in a post, writing as if they fully supported the idea. The tag [Devil's Advocating] can be used to show that this is what they are doing.

One comment thread can be devoted to finding arguments that the viewpoint covers strongly. (i.e. maybe subjectivism handles a specific question a little better than most other philosophies, or maybe Kuhn's revolutions provide a better explanation of the different types of science that scientists engage in than other science philosophies). This can help us fight our "Soldiers as Arguments" inclinations.

Another comment thread can be devoted to finding specific fallacies in the argument. NOT just "This is silly, <Idea X> is better", but actual "This doesn't work because of <Reason Y>".

Of course, for this to be interesting, it has to be an opposing idea that hasn't been discussed to death. For example, I know in history there are all sorts of competing theories, some of which work better than others. I bet other fields are the same.