Principle
A principle is a fundamental truth or proposition that serves as the foundation for a system of beliefs or behavior or a chain of reasoning.
Examples of principles are,
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.
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
As axiom or logical fundament
Principle of sufficient reason
The principle states that every event has a rational explanation.[7] 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.”[8] For example, it is not possible that in exactly the same moment and place, it rains and does not rain.[9]
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.[10] 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
References
- ^ Jacoby, Jeff. "Lady Justice's blindfold." Boston.com. 10 May 2009. 25 October 2017.
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- ^ 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
- ^ "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
- The dictionary definition of principle at Wiktionary
- Actus Essendi and the Habit of the First Principle in Thomas Aquinas (New York: Einsiedler Press, 2019).