Principle of law

A principle of law is a codified philosophical ("principle"), which represents the core of a law as found in a constitution, in precedent, or else is interpreted to arise from either or both.

As most legal systems are nationalistic frameworks built upon a small core of legal concepts, jurisdiction and sovereignty often have bearing in making statements of principle. Legal conservatives may tend to be accordingly restricted or "practical" in their concept of a legal principle, while liberals tend to be more inclusive and universalist.


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Look at other dictionaries:

  • principle of law — index stare decisis Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • authortative principle of law — index precedent Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • Principle of contradiction — Principle Prin ci*ple, n. [F. principe, L. principium beginning, foundation, fr. princeps, cipis. See {Prince}.] 1. Beginning; commencement. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] Doubting sad end of principle unsound. Spenser. [1913 Webster] 2. A source, or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • law (or principle) of the excluded middle Logic — the principle that one (and one only) of two contradictory propositions must be true. → exclude …   English new terms dictionary

  • principle (or law) of parsimony — the scientific principle that things are usually connected in the simplest or most economical way. → parsimony …   English new terms dictionary

  • principle of sufficient reason — law of sufficient reason * * * principle of sufficient reason see under ↑reason • • • Main Entry: ↑principle principle of sufficient reason That nothing happens without a sufficient reason why it should be as it is and not otherwise • • • Main… …   Useful english dictionary

  • principle of contradiction — law of contradiction * * * principle of contradiction noun The logical principle that a thing cannot both be and not be • • • Main Entry: ↑principle …   Useful english dictionary

  • Principle of identity — can also refer to the Law of identity The Principle of identity was a conception of knowledge which denied empiricism postulated in the philosophy of African Spir …   Wikipedia

  • principle of identity — law of identity * * * principle of identity (logic) A law stating that A is A, that a thing is the same as itself ● identity …   Useful english dictionary

  • Principle of contradiction — In logic, the Principle of contradiction ( principium contradictionis in Latin) is the second of the so called three classic laws of thought. The oldest statement of the law is that contradictory statements cannot both at the same time be true, e …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”