Morality is a Natural Law.  As a Natural Law, it is fixed: it does not change.  As a Natural law, it is also universal: it applies equally, to all individuals, everywhere, at all times — past, present and future.  Now I want to explain that ‘principles’ is just another way of saying ‘morality.’

Here is why knowing the definitions of words matters: because, if and when we know the definition of a word, we will often find the connections between it and other words, and how they are connected to the fundamental laws of this world we call Natural Law:

Simple Definition of principle

Right there, in the definition of the word, ‘principle,’ we find that it means a moral or Natural Law (note: morality is just a part, or subset of Natural Law).  But we also see that ‘principle’ is connected to ‘truth’ (as are morality and Natural Law).

Now, if we look up the meaning of ‘truth,’ we find that it is connected to ‘fact.’  Put it all together and we have the following understanding of ‘principle:’

A moral law which is real, fixed and universal.

Now, if you will compare this to the definition of morality, you will find they are essentially the same thing.  So why does this matter?  Simple:

FUNDAMENTALS OF NATURAL LAW: No Morality, No Liberty: No God, No Morality

Or, in other words, if there are no principles in your life, then there can be no liberty: but if you do not believe in the Creator, you cannot have principles.  This is Truth, as explained here:

The Creator: a Necessary Fallacy

Therefore, if we are to live a ‘principled’ (i.e. moral, or ‘good’) life, then we must live according to the Creator’s Law.  But we cannot stop there.  We must compare the teachings of whatever belief we embrace to the Creator’s Natural Laws.  And if the teachings of that belief contradict these Natural Laws, then we know that belief is false.  In the same way, we should compare our individual actions to the Creator’s Natural Law and, when our actions are in conflict or contradiction with those Laws, we know that we are acting outside of them.  It is in this way and only this way (comparing what we believe and do to Natural Law) that we can ever hope to arrive at anything even approaching Truth or the moral (i.e. ‘good’) life.

Oh!  And if you do not care about Natural Law or living the ‘good’ life, then understand: you are the very person from whom society was formed to protect us, and as such, society is well within its Natural Right to treat you as its enemy.

“I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience. I know of no way of judging the future but by the past.“

— Patrick Henry

When we try to determine what will happen in the future, or evaluate what a given person tells you they plan to do in the future, we should always let the past govern our judgment.  This is because the past is not only our best, but our only guide to the future.  If something has always lead to a given result in the past, then we have absolutely no reason to expect it will end any differently in the future (socialism is the perfect example: no matter what the form, it always collapses within a generation).  The same applies to individuals: if their past shows a pattern of deception and/or broken promises, then we should just assume they will continue that pattern in the future.  Continue reading PRINCIPLES FOR LIVING A RATIONAL LIFE: Unless There Is A ‘Turning Point,’ The Past Must Be Our Guide →

This is a basic principle for anyone who seeks to live a  rational and self-disciplined life.

I have written that reason dictates we should take people at their word.  However, in that blog post, I also provided a condition to this rule.  When a persons actions contradict their words, it may be cause to disregard what they say in favor of what they do.  However, as with most things, there are conditions to this rule, as well. Continue reading PRINCIPLES FOR LIVING A RATIONAL LIFE: A Person’s Actions Outweigh Their Words →

A fundamental principle of Natural Law is that definitions are fixed.  Once a thing is defined, it does not change.  If it does, then it is not the definition that has changed, but the thing itself, in which case, the definition is still fixed, it just no longer applies to that thing.  While this may sound confusing, it is not.  And while it may not seem important, it is imperative to everything we do.  Please allow me to explain. Continue reading PRINCIPLES OF NATURAL LAW: Definitions Are Fixed →