prime directive
Overriding guiding principle
A prime directive is a fundamental rule that overrides all other considerations.
The term originates from *Star Trek*, where it names the Federation's prohibition against interfering with less developed civilizations.
Outside science fiction, it describes any guiding principle treated as inviolable: Our prime directive is customer safety.
The phrase often carries a hint of irony, acknowledging that such absolute rules inevitably face exceptions.
Named union of states
- StarfleetFederation's exploratory military
- non-interferenceAbstaining from meddling
- Captain KirkStarship's famous captain
- VulcanRoman forge god
Captain Picard · Klingon · Romulan · Borg · holodeck · transporter · away team · starship
Formal authoritative directive
- supreme commandAbsolute authority over forces
- standing orderPreset recurring transaction
- protocolPrescribed conduct rules
- regulationOfficial rules governing conduct
hierarchy · chain of command · compliance · enforcement · authority · jurisdiction
Abstaining from meddling
- autonomyIndependent decision-making capacity
- cultural relativismUnderstanding norms within their context
- sovereigntySupreme independent authority
- interventionismPolicy of deliberate involvement
moral imperative · self-determination · colonialism · paternalism · indigenous rights · observation · neutrality · contamination
Federation
Named union of states
- StarfleetFederation's exploratory military
- non-interferenceAbstaining from meddling
- Captain KirkStarship's famous captain
Captain Picard · Vulcan · Klingon · Romulan · Borg · holodeck · transporter · away team · starship · alien species
mandate
Formal authoritative directive
- supreme commandAbsolute authority over forces
- standing orderPreset recurring transaction
- protocolPrescribed conduct rules
regulation · hierarchy · chain of command · compliance · enforcement · authority · jurisdiction
non-interference
Abstaining from meddling
- autonomyIndependent decision-making capacity
- cultural relativismUnderstanding norms within their context
- sovereigntySupreme independent authority
interventionism · moral imperative · self-determination · colonialism · paternalism · indigenous rights · observation · neutrality · contamination · unintended consequences
- Fictional codeschivalric code
- principlesprinciple, ethics, tenet, morals, axiom
- belief systemsobjectivism, bushido, utilitarianism, transhumanism, solipsism
prime directivesuggestion
Idea proposed for consideration
recommendation · guideline · advisory · nice-to-have · hint
prime, directive, primes, primed, priming, primer, primers, primacy, primal