A principle may relate to a fundamental truth or proposition that serves as the foundation for a system of beliefs or behavior or a chain of reasoning. They provide a guide for behavior or evaluation. A principle can make values explicit, so they are expressed in the form of rules and standards. Principles unpack the values underlying them more concretely so that the values can be more easily operationalized in policy statements and actions.
In law, higher order, overarching principles establish rules to be followed, modified by sentencing guidelines relating to context and proportionality. In science and nature, a principle may define the essential characteristics of the system, or reflect the system's designed purpose. The effective operation would be impossible if any one of the principles was to be ignored. A system may be explicitly based on and implemented from a document of principles as was done in IBM's 360/370 Principles of Operation. It is important to differentiate an operational principle, including reference to 'first principles' from higher order 'guiding' or 'exemplary' principles, such as equality, justice and sustainability. Higher-order, 'superordinate' principles (Super-Ps) provide a basis for resolving differences and building agreement/alignment.
Examples of principles are, entropy in a number of fields, least action in physics, those in descriptive comprehensive and fundamental law: doctrines or assumptions forming normative rules of conduct, separation of church and state in statecraft, the central dogma of molecular biology, fairness in ethics, etc.
In common English, it is a substantive and collective term referring to rule governance, the absence of which, being "unprincipled", is considered a character defect. It may also be used to declare that a reality has diverged from some ideal or norm as when something is said to be true only "in principle" but not in fact.
As law
As moral law
A principle represents values that orient and rule the conduct of persons in a particular society. To "act on principle" is to act in accordance with one's moral ideals. Principles are absorbed in childhood through a process of socialization. There is a presumption of liberty of individuals that is restrained. Exemplary principles include First, do no harm, the Golden Rule and the Doctrine of the Mean.
As a juridic law
It represents a set of values that inspire the written norms that organize the life of a society submitting to the powers of an authority, generally the State. The law establishes a legal obligation, in a coercive way; it therefore acts as principle conditioning of the action that limits the liberty of the individuals. See, for examples, the territorial principle, homestead principle, and precautionary principle.
As scientific law
Archimedes principle, relating buoyancy to the weight of displaced water, is an early example of a law in science. Another early one developed by Malthus is the population principle, now called the Malthusian principle. Freud also wrote on principles, especially the reality principle necessary to keep the id and pleasure principle in check. Biologists use the principle of priority and principle of Binominal nomenclature for precision in naming species. There are many principles observed in physics, notably in cosmology which observes the mediocrity principle, the anthropic principle, the principle of relativity and the cosmological principle. Other well-known principles include the uncertainty principle in quantum mechanics and the pigeonhole principle and superposition principle in mathematics.
As axiom or logical fundament
Principle of sufficient reason
The principle states that every event has a rational explanation. The principle has a variety of expressions, all of which are perhaps best summarized by the following:
- For every entity x, if x exists, then there is a sufficient explanation for why x exists.
- For every event e, if e occurs, then there is a sufficient explanation for why e occurs.
- For every proposition p, if p is true, then there is a sufficient explanation for why p is true.
However, one realizes that in every sentence there is a direct relation between the predicate and the subject. To say that "the Earth is round", corresponds to a direct relation between the subject and the predicate.
Principle of non-contradiction
According to Aristotle, "It is impossible for the same thing to belong and not to belong at the same time to the same thing and in the same respect." For example, it is not possible that in exactly the same moment and place, it rains and does not rain.
Principle of excluded middle
The principle of the excluding third or "principium tertium exclusum" is a principle of the traditional logic formulated canonically by Leibniz as: either A is B or A isn't B. It is read the following way: either P is true, or its denial ¬P is. It is also known as "tertium non datur" ('A third (thing) is not'). Classically it is considered to be one of the most important fundamental principles or laws of thought (along with the principles of identity, non-contradiction and sufficient reason).
See also
- Ahimsa
- Axiom
- Corollary
- Deduction
- Logical consequence
- Non-aggression principle
- Self-evidence
References
- Jacoby, Jeff. "Lady Justice's blindfold." Boston.com. 10 May 2009. 25 October 2017.
- Stevenson, Angus; Lindberg, Christine A., eds. (2010-01-01). "New Oxford American Dictionary". doi:10.1093/acref/9780195392883.001.0001. ISBN 978-0-19-539288-3.
- UNESCO (2021). "Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence".
- Alpa, Guido (1994) General Principles of Law, Annual Survey of International & Comparative Law, Vol. 1: Is. 1, Article 2. from Golden Gate University School of Law
- Sharpley, D. (2024). "Leadership Principles and Purpose".
- "The Ethics of Socrates." Archived 2018-05-01 at the Wayback Machine Philosophy. 25 October 2017.
- "Full Transcript: Jeff Flake’s Speech on the Senate Floor." New York Times. 24 October 2017. 25 October 2017.
- Elwell, Frank W. "T. Robert Mathus's Principle ...." Rogers State University. 2013. 25 October 2017.
- "Principle of Sufficient Reason." Archived 2018-06-11 at the Wayback Machine Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. 7 September 2016. 25 October 2017.
- "Aristotle on Non-contradiction." Archived 2018-06-11 at the Wayback Machine Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. 12 June 2015. 25 October 2017.
- "Great Philosophers." Oregon State University. 2002. 25 October 2017.
- Whitehead, Alfred North (2005). Principia mathematica, by Alfred North Whitehead ... and Bertrand Russell.
External links
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The dictionary definition of principle at Wiktionary- Actus Essendi and the Habit of the First Principle in Thomas Aquinas (New York: Einsiedler Press, 2019).
A principle may relate to a fundamental truth or proposition that serves as the foundation for a system of beliefs or behavior or a chain of reasoning They provide a guide for behavior or evaluation A principle can make values explicit so they are expressed in the form of rules and standards Principles unpack the values underlying them more concretely so that the values can be more easily operationalized in policy statements and actions The concept of blind justice is a moral principle In law higher order overarching principles establish rules to be followed modified by sentencing guidelines relating to context and proportionality In science and nature a principle may define the essential characteristics of the system or reflect the system s designed purpose The effective operation would be impossible if any one of the principles was to be ignored A system may be explicitly based on and implemented from a document of principles as was done in IBM s 360 370 Principles of Operation It is important to differentiate an operational principle including reference to first principles from higher order guiding or exemplary principles such as equality justice and sustainability Higher order superordinate principles Super Ps provide a basis for resolving differences and building agreement alignment Examples of principles are entropy in a number of fields least action in physics those in descriptive comprehensive and fundamental law doctrines or assumptions forming normative rules of conduct separation of church and state in statecraft the central dogma of molecular biology fairness in ethics etc In common English it is a substantive and collective term referring to rule governance the absence of which being unprincipled is considered a character defect It may also be used to declare that a reality has diverged from some ideal or norm as when something is said to be true only in principle but not in fact As lawAs moral law Socrates preferred to face execution rather than betray his moral principles A principle represents values that orient and rule the conduct of persons in a particular society To act on principle is to act in accordance with one s moral ideals Principles are absorbed in childhood through a process of socialization There is a presumption of liberty of individuals that is restrained Exemplary principles include First do no harm the Golden Rule and the Doctrine of the Mean As a juridic law It represents a set of values that inspire the written norms that organize the life of a society submitting to the powers of an authority generally the State The law establishes a legal obligation in a coercive way it therefore acts as principle conditioning of the action that limits the liberty of the individuals See for examples the territorial principle homestead principle and precautionary principle As scientific law Archimedes principle relating buoyancy to the weight of displaced water is an early example of a law in science Another early one developed by Malthus is the population principle now called the Malthusian principle Freud also wrote on principles especially the reality principle necessary to keep the id and pleasure principle in check Biologists use the principle of priority and principle of Binominal nomenclature for precision in naming species There are many principles observed in physics notably in cosmology which observes the mediocrity principle the anthropic principle the principle of relativity and the cosmological principle Other well known principles include the uncertainty principle in quantum mechanics and the pigeonhole principle and superposition principle in mathematics As axiom or logical fundamentPrinciple of sufficient reason The principle states that every event has a rational explanation The principle has a variety of expressions all of which are perhaps best summarized by the following For every entity x if x exists then there is a sufficient explanation for why x exists For every event e if e occurs then there is a sufficient explanation for why e occurs For every proposition p if p is true then there is a sufficient explanation for why p is true However one realizes that in every sentence there is a direct relation between the predicate and the subject To say that the Earth is round corresponds to a direct relation between the subject and the predicate Principle of non contradiction Portrait bust of Aristotle an Imperial Roman copy of a lost bronze sculpture made by Lysippos According to Aristotle It is impossible for the same thing to belong and not to belong at the same time to the same thing and in the same respect For example it is not possible that in exactly the same moment and place it rains and does not rain Principle of excluded middle The principle of the excluding third or principium tertium exclusum is a principle of the traditional logic formulated canonically by Leibniz as either A is B or A isn t B It is read the following way either P is true or its denial P is It is also known as tertium non datur A third thing is not Classically it is considered to be one of the most important fundamental principles or laws of thought along with the principles of identity non contradiction and sufficient reason See alsoAhimsa Axiom Corollary Deduction Logical consequence Non aggression principle Self evidenceReferencesJacoby Jeff Lady Justice s blindfold Boston com 10 May 2009 25 October 2017 Stevenson Angus Lindberg Christine A eds 2010 01 01 New Oxford American Dictionary doi 10 1093 acref 9780195392883 001 0001 ISBN 978 0 19 539288 3 UNESCO 2021 Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence Alpa Guido 1994 General Principles of Law Annual Survey of International amp Comparative Law Vol 1 Is 1 Article 2 from Golden Gate University School of Law Sharpley D 2024 Leadership Principles and Purpose The Ethics of Socrates Archived 2018 05 01 at the Wayback Machine Philosophy 25 October 2017 Full Transcript Jeff Flake s Speech on the Senate Floor New York Times 24 October 2017 25 October 2017 Elwell Frank W T Robert Mathus s Principle Rogers State University 2013 25 October 2017 Principle of Sufficient Reason Archived 2018 06 11 at the Wayback Machine Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy 7 September 2016 25 October 2017 Aristotle on Non contradiction Archived 2018 06 11 at the Wayback Machine Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy 12 June 2015 25 October 2017 Great Philosophers Oregon State University 2002 25 October 2017 Whitehead Alfred North 2005 Principia mathematica by Alfred North Whitehead and Bertrand Russell External linksThe dictionary definition of principle at Wiktionary Actus Essendi and the Habit of the First Principle in Thomas Aquinas New York Einsiedler Press 2019
