What is "principlism"

n. A system of ethics based on the four moral principles of autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice.

Principlism is a system of ethics based on the four moral principles of:

1. Autonomy—free-will or agency,

2. Beneficence—do good,

3. Nonmaleficence—do no harm, and

4. Justice—social distribution of benefits and burdens.

Advocates for principlism argue that from the beginning of recorded history most moral decision-makers descriptively and prescriptively have used these four moral principles; that they are part of or compatible with most intellectual, religious, and cultural beliefs.