principles

Core ethical standards

Principles are fundamental truths, rules, or beliefs that guide behavior or reasoning.

Scientific principles explain how things work: the principle of natural selection.

Moral principles shape conduct: She refused on principle.

A person of principle acts according to ethical standards.

In principle means theoretically, even if not in practice: I agree in principle, but the details concern me.

The plural often refers to someone's core values: He's a man of principles.

fundamentals

basics

Foundational knowledge of something

foundationsStructural bases below ground
essentialsIndispensable items or elements
cornerstonesEssential founding elements

building blocks · rudiments · underpinnings · groundwork · bedrock · framework · pillars · roots · core concepts · ABCs

ethics

honesty

Truthfulness, sincerity

fairnessJust and equal treatment
justiceFair treatment under law
virtueMoral goodness or merit

righteousness · integrity · accountability · conscience · dignity · respect · equity · impartiality · decency · probity

philosophy

axioms

Accepted starting principles

postulatesAssumed starting principles
theoremsProven mathematical statements
logicScience of valid reasoning

epistemology · metaphysics · dialectics · empiricism · rationalism · categorical imperative · natural law · deontology · utilitarianism · teleology

doctrine

tenets

Foundational beliefs of doctrine

dogmaUnchallengeable official beliefs
credoGuiding personal doctrine
preceptsRules of conduct

creed · canon · catechism · beliefs · teachings · ideology · articles of faith · manifesto · commandments · gospel

standards

guidelines

Suggested rules for behavior

normsExpected behavioral standards
criteriaStandards for judgment
protocolsEstablished codes of conduct

code of conduct · best practices · benchmarks · specifications · parameters · compliance · ethics code · professional standards · governance · policies

Categories

identityidentity, personal identity, self, selfhood, self-expression
fundamentalsbasics, fundamentals, essentials, foundation, ABCs
integrityintegrity, honesty, truthfulness, uprightness, rectitude
moralsmorality, moral code, ethics lessons, moral codes, moral compass
rules & ethicsethics, honor code, bylaws, guidelines, protocol
Ethics Termsmoral reasoning, moral philosophy, meta-ethics, casuistry, teleology

Opposites

moral foundation

principlesimmorality

Quality of being wicked

corruption · dishonor · depravity · wickedness · badness

stability and consistency

principleswhims

Spontaneous, capricious notions

impulses · caprices · expedience · opportunism · caprice

abstraction level

principlesdetails

Specific pieces of information

particulars · specifics · trivia · minutiae · technicalities

Phrases

in principleAbstractly true, practically uncertain
first principlesBasic truths underlying reasoning
guiding principlesFoundational rules for conduct
biblical principlesMoral teachings from scripture
founding principlesInitial guiding beliefs
moral principleRule of right conduct

Family

principle, principled, unprincipled

Familiarity: Top 20,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Abstract · Everyday, not technical · Rated G