TEN UNIVERSAL
PRINCIPLES
I. PRINCIPLES OF
REASON
PRINCIPLE 1: PRINCIPLE OF
COMPLETE EXPLANATION
The best opinion or theory is the one
that explains the most data.
For example, if two theories try to
explain why the sky is blue, and one of
them can explain the color of the sky at
different times of the day and under
different weather conditions while the
other cannot, the first theory is
considered better. This is because it
provides a clearer, more complete
understanding of what we observe in
the real world.
A smartphone
seller explains
thoroughly the
cutting-edge
features of the
new smartphone
model.
PRINCIPLE 2: PRINCIPLE OF NONCONTRADICTION
Valid opinions or theories have no
internal inconsistencies.
Classic formulation: A real being cannot
both be and not be the same thing, in
the same respect, at the same place
and time.
A business owner claims that their
store was open at 7 pm and closed at 7
pm on the same day. These two
statements cannot both be true at the
same time because they directly
contradict each other. The store cannot
be both open and closed at 7 pm on the
same day—it's either one or the other.
A business cannot simultaneously
be profitable and not profitable at
the same time. If a company
reports a profit in its financial
statements, it means it is
generating more revenue than
expenses. To claim, in the same
context, that the company is not
profitable would contradict the initial
PRINCIPLE 3: PRINCIPLE OF
OBJECTIVE EVIDENCE
Nonarbitrary opinions or
theories are based upon
publicly verifiable
evidence.
1. The Earth revolves around the Sun.
2. Blue is the best color.
Which of the two is publicly verifiable?
A company’s CEO proposes investing
in a new project, claiming it will
significantly boost profits. To apply the
principle of objective evidence, the
board of directors requests detailed
data, such as market research, financial
forecasts, and past performance reports,
to support the CEO's claim.
II. PRINCIPLES OF
ETHICS
PRINCIPLE 4: PRINCIPLE OF
NON-MALEFICENCE
Avoid unnecessary harms, if a harm is
unavoidable, minimize it.
Silver rule: Do not do unto others what
you would not have them do unto you.
In a workplace setting, a
manager might refrain from
implementing a new policy that
could lead to undue stress or
harm to employees, even if it
might increase productivity.
PRINCIPLE 5: PRINCIPLE OF
CONSISTENT ENDS AND MEANS
The end does not justify the
means.
(One cannot use and evil means to
achieve a good end; the evil of the
means will undermine the goodness
of the end.)
Robinhood steals from the rich
(means) to give to the poor (end). Is
this ethical?
“Bonum ex integra causa;
malum ex quocumque defectu”
(A good results from the whole
perfection; the evil from any
defect)
A person commits lying
to save the life of
another person.
PRINCIPLE 6: PRINCIPLE OF FULL
HUMAN POTENTIAL
Every human being (or group of
human beings) deserves to be valued
according to the full level of human
development, not according to the
level of development currently
achieved.
Spanish
conquistadores
killing the
Indian natives
(uncivilized).
III. PRINCIPLES OF
JUSTICE
AND NATURAL
RIGHTS
JUSTICE is giving to
others their due.
RIGHTS are natural and
inherent to human
beings, existing
independent of any
social or legal systems
PRINCIPLE 7: PRINCIPLE OF NATURAL RIGHTS
All human beings possess in
themselves (by virtue of their
existence alone) the inalienable rights
of life, liberty, and property
ownership, no government gives
these rights, and no government can
take them away.
No one has a RIGHT
to DO WRONG.
The human person has natural
rights antecedent to and
superior to all positive law.
RIGHT TO PROPERTY
RIGHT TO LIBERTY
RIGHT TO LIFE
Every individual has
the inherent right to
live, and this right
cannot be arbitrarily
taken away.
Every person has the
right to own
This includes the freedom to
property and to
make personal choices, to
think, to speak, to believe,
enjoy the fruits of
and to act according to one's
their labor.
conscience without undue
interference from others or
from the government.
PRINCIPLE 8: THE PRINCIPLE OF
FUNDAMENTALITY OF RIGHTS
The more fundamental right is
the one which is necessary for
the possibility of the other;
where there is a conflict, we
should resolve in favor of the
more fundamental right.
LIFE
LIBERTY
PROPERTY
SUBDIVISION OF RIGHTS
A. Connatural Rights – come to man by reason of
his human nature
(Ex. The right to marry and the right of parents over
their children)
B. Acquired Rights – are established upon a fact.
(Ex. The right to possess a house acquired through
inheritance; The royalty rights acquired through
authorship of a book)
SUBDIVISION OF RIGHTS
C. Inalienable Rights – are those which cannot be
renounced or transferred because they are necessary
for the fulfillment of man’s primordial obligations.
(Ex. The right to life; the right to worship.)
D. Alienable Rights – are rights which can be
renounced or transferred for sufficiently grave
reasons.
(Ex. The right to marry; to possess wealth)
SUBDIVISION OF RIGHTS
E. Perfect Rights – are rights that are backed by
coercive power, as the rights of parents over their
children.
(Ex. Rights involving human contracts)
F. Imperfect Rights – are rights which lack the support
of might, as the claim of a benefactor to the gratitude
of his protégé.
SUBDIVISION OF RIGHTS
G. Public Rights – rule the actions of a perfect
society, like the church, the state, or the
international society.
F. Private Rights – rule the actions of an imperfect
society.
PRINCIPLE 9: THE PRINCIPLE OF
LIMITS TO FREEDOM
One person’s (or group’s)
freedoms cannot impose
undue burdens upon other
persons (or groups).
EXAMPLE:
COMMUNITY
LOCKDOWN
DURING COVID19 PANDEMIC
FOR THE
BENEFIT OF THE
COMMUNITY
PRINCIPLE 10: THE PRINCIPLE OF BENEFICENCE
Aim at optimal
contribution to others and
society.
The Golden Rule: Do unto
others as you would have them
do unto you.
EXAMPLE:
A company decides to use ecofriendly materials, even though it
costs more. They do this to help
the environment and society, not
just to make money. This shows
the company cares about doing
good for everyone, not just profits.