Gadfly (philosophy and social science)

"Gadfly" is a term for people who like to upset the status quo by posing upsetting or novel questions, or attempt to stimulate innovation by proving an irritant. Coined by Socrates to describe his relationship of uncomfortable goad to the Athenian politican scene that he compares to a slow and dim whited horse, the term has been used to describe many politicians and social comentators.