An Analysis of the Concept, Status, and Role of Moral Principle in the Moral System

The term ‘moral principle’ is most frequently used in the field of ethical investigations. Although it has a wide range of usages, it is nevertheless an unclear term. This paper with an analytic documentary method tries (1) to define moral principle, (2) to clarify its status in the moral system, (3) to identify the relation of moral principle to the theory of moral value and to moral rules, (4) to depict some cases of moral principles, and finally to introduce the way of constructing a moral principle. The moral principle may be defined as a number of basic moral rules (either arising from requirements, or good and bad) which are organized according to ethical foundations and value theory, and can function as an origin of other moral rules in the moral system.