PrinciplePrinciple. Principium, like ἀρχὴ, means beginning. As a philosophical term Aristotle defines ἀρχὴ as that first source from which anything is, or becomes, or is known. Everything that exists must have its ground in something antecedent, be it cause, condition, or element; and every article of faith or knowledge must proceed from some previous conviction, which as the point of departure for proof cannot be proved itself, but at the same time cannot be disbelieved: principles have therefore been divided into principia essendi, and principia cognoscendi
Such want causes their conduct to be determined not by fixed law, but by passion, by circumstance, by temptation, by self-interest, real or imagined. This, rather than regulation by evil principles, is the state of matters with them. If any have gone further, if they have deliberately called evil good, and acted accordingly, then the word unprincipled becomes an inadequate description of them, they should be called ill principled, people of bad principles. The writers of the end of the sixteenth and the beginning of the last century seem to have recognised a verb to principle. Thus Locke speaks not only of principled but of principling |
© TORRE DE BABEL EDICIONES – Edition: Isabel Blanco – Legal notice and privacy policy |