Principle vs. Doctrine — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Fiza Rafique — Updated on March 24, 2024
Principle often refers to a fundamental truth or proposition that serves as the foundation for a system of belief, while a doctrine is a belief or set of beliefs held and taught by a church, political party, or other group.
Difference Between Principle and Doctrine
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Key Differences
Principles are foundational truths that guide behavior or thought in a variety of situations, relying on universal applicability. They serve as the bedrock upon which ethical, moral, and sometimes legal frameworks are built. On the other hand, doctrines are more specific in nature and are often associated with a particular group or institution. They provide a structured set of beliefs that members are expected to follow. Doctrines are prevalent in religious, political, and legal contexts, acting as a collective understanding or interpretation of principles, texts, or ideologies.
Principles tend to be more enduring and universal, transcending cultural and temporal boundaries. They are often abstract in nature, allowing for broad application across various scenarios. In contrast, doctrines are more rigid and can be subject to change as the beliefs or understanding of the group evolves. They are often codified and require adherence by the members of the group or institution.
The principle of autonomy, which emphasizes an individual's right to make their own choices, is a concept that can be applied in numerous contexts, from ethics to law. Doctrines can also be specific to a particular time and place, reflecting the historical and cultural context in which they were developed.
While principles can be seen as the foundation upon which doctrines are built, the relationship between the two is not strictly hierarchical. In some cases, doctrines can influence the interpretation and application of principles, especially within the confines of a specific group or institution. This dynamic interaction highlights the complexity of how foundational beliefs and structured teachings coexist and influence each other.
Comparison Chart
Nature
Fundamental truth or proposition
Set of beliefs held and taught by a group
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Scope
Universal applicability
Specific to a group or institution
Function
Guides behavior or thought
Provides structured beliefs for members to follow
Flexibility
Enduring and adaptable
More rigid and can evolve with the group
Context
Transcends cultural and temporal boundaries
Reflects historical and cultural context
Compare with Definitions
Principle
A fundamental truth serving as the foundation for belief or action.
The principle of equality is crucial in democratic societies.
Doctrine
A belief or set of beliefs held and taught by a church, political party, or other group.
The doctrine of non-violence is central to many religions.
Principle
A basic idea or rule that explains or controls how something happens or works.
The principle of supply and demand governs the market.
Doctrine
A principle or body of principles presented for acceptance or belief by a religious, political, scientific, or philosophic group.
Darwin's doctrine of natural selection revolutionized biology.
Principle
A guiding sense of the requirements and obligations of right conduct.
The company operates on the principle of fair trade.
Doctrine
A stated principle of government policy, mainly in foreign or military affairs.
The Truman Doctrine was aimed at containing communism.
Principle
A moral rule or belief about what is right and wrong, guiding one's behavior.
She refused to compromise her principles.
Doctrine
A legal principle that is widely adhered to.
The doctrine of precedent underpins the common law system.
Principle
A law or fact of nature that explains how something works.
The principle of conservation of energy states that energy cannot be created or destroyed.
Doctrine
Doctrine (from Latin: doctrina, meaning "teaching, instruction") is a codification of beliefs or a body of teachings or instructions, taught principles or positions, as the essence of teachings in a given branch of knowledge or in a belief system. The etymological Greek analogue is "catechism".Often the word doctrine specifically suggests a body of religious principles as promulgated by a church.
Principle
A principle is a proposition or value that is a guide for behavior or evaluation. In law, it is a rule that has to be or usually is to be followed.
Doctrine
A principle or body of principles presented for acceptance or belief, as by a religious, political, scientific, or philosophic group; dogma.
Principle
A fundamental truth or proposition that serves as the foundation for a system of belief or behaviour or for a chain of reasoning
The basic principles of justice
Doctrine
A rule or principle of law, especially when established by precedent.
Principle
A general scientific theorem or law that has numerous special applications across a wide field.
Doctrine
A statement of official government policy, especially in foreign affairs and military strategy.
Principle
A fundamental source or basis of something
The first principle of all things was water
Doctrine
(Archaic) Something taught; a teaching.
Principle
A basic truth, law, or assumption
The principles of democracy.
Doctrine
(countable) A belief or tenet, especially about philosophical or theological matters.
The incarnation is a basic doctrine of classical Christianity.
The four noble truths summarise the main doctrines of Buddhism.
Principle
A rule or standard, especially of good behavior
A man of principle.
Doctrine
The body of teachings of an ideology, most often a religion, or of an ideological or religious leader, organization, group, or text.
What is the understanding of marriage and family in orthodox Marxist doctrine?
Principle
The collectivity of moral or ethical standards or judgments
A decision based on principle rather than expediency.
Doctrine
(countable) A self-imposed policy governing some aspect of a country's foreign relations, especially regarding what sort of behavior it will or will not tolerate from other countries.
Principle
A fixed or predetermined policy or mode of action.
Doctrine
Teaching; instruction.
He taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine, Hearken.
Principle
A basic or essential quality or element determining intrinsic nature or characteristic behavior
The principle of self-preservation.
Doctrine
That which is taught; what is held, put forth as true, and supported by a teacher, a school, or a sect; a principle or position, or the body of principles, in any branch of knowledge; any tenet or dogma; a principle of faith; as, the doctrine of atoms; the doctrine of chances.
Articles of faith and doctrine.
Unpracticed he to fawn or seek for powerBy doctrines fashioned to the varying hour.
Principle
A rule or law concerning the functioning of natural phenomena or mechanical processes
The principle of jet propulsion.
Doctrine
A belief (or system of beliefs) accepted as authoritative by some group or school
Principle
(Chemistry) One of the elements that compose a substance, especially one that gives some special quality or effect.
Principle
A basic source. See Usage Note at principal.
Principle
A fundamental assumption or guiding belief.
We need some sort of principles to reason from.
Principle
A rule used to choose among solutions to a problem.
The principle of least privilege holds that a process should only receive the permissions it needs.
Principle
Moral rule or aspect.
I don't doubt your principles.
You are clearly a person of principle.
It's the principle of the thing; I won't do business with someone I can't trust.
Principle
(physics) A rule or law of nature, or the basic idea on how the laws of nature are applied.
Bernoulli's Principle
The Pauli Exclusion Principle prevents two fermions from occupying the same state.
The principle of the internal combustion engine
Principle
A fundamental essence, particularly one producing a given quality.
Many believe that life is the result of some vital principle.
Principle
A source, or origin; that from which anything proceeds; fundamental substance or energy; primordial substance; ultimate element, or cause.
Principle
An original faculty or endowment.
Principle
Misspelling of principal
Principle
(obsolete) A beginning.
Principle
(transitive) To equip with principles; to establish, or fix, in certain principles; to impress with any tenet or rule of conduct.
Principle
Beginning; commencement.
Doubting sad end of principle unsound.
Principle
A source, or origin; that from which anything proceeds; fundamental substance or energy; primordial substance; ultimate element, or cause.
The soul of man is an active principle.
Principle
An original faculty or endowment.
Nature in your principles hath set [benignity].
Those active principles whose direct and ultimate object is the communication either of enjoyment or suffering.
Principle
A fundamental truth; a comprehensive law or doctrine, from which others are derived, or on which others are founded; a general truth; an elementary proposition; a maxim; an axiom; a postulate.
Therefore, leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection.
A good principle, not rightly understood, may prove as hurtful as a bad.
Principle
A settled rule of action; a governing law of conduct; an opinion or belief which exercises a directing influence on the life and behavior; a rule (usually, a right rule) of conduct consistently directing one's actions; as, a person of no principle.
All kinds of dishonesty destroy our pretenses to an honest principle of mind.
Principle
Any original inherent constituent which characterizes a substance, or gives it its essential properties, and which can usually be separated by analysis; - applied especially to drugs, plant extracts, etc.
Cathartine is the bitter, purgative principle of senna.
Principle
To equip with principles; to establish, or fix, in certain principles; to impress with any tenet, or rule of conduct, good or ill.
Governors should be well principled.
Let an enthusiast be principled that he or his teacher is inspired.
Principle
A basic generalization that is accepted as true and that can be used as a basis for reasoning or conduct;
Their principles of composition characterized all their works
Principle
A rule or standard especially of good behavior;
A man of principle
He will not violate his principles
Principle
A basic truth or law or assumption;
The principles of democracy
Principle
A rule or law concerning a natural phenomenon or the function of a complex system;
The principle of the conservation of mass
The principle of jet propulsion
The right-hand rule for inductive fields
Principle
Rule of personal conduct
Principle
(law) an explanation of the fundamental reasons (especially an explanation of the working of some device in terms of laws of nature);
The rationale for capital punishment
The principles of internal-combustion engines
Common Curiosities
What is a doctrine?
A doctrine is a set of beliefs or teachings that are held and taught by a specific group, such as a religious or political institution.
How do principles differ from doctrines?
Principles are broad, fundamental truths that can apply universally, while doctrines are specific teachings associated with particular groups or institutions.
Can a principle become a doctrine?
Yes, a principle can be adopted as part of a group's doctrine, but it then becomes specific to that group's teachings and interpretations.
Do all religions have doctrines?
Most organized religions have doctrines, which are the teachings and beliefs that define their faith and practice.
Can doctrines change over time?
Yes, doctrines can evolve as the beliefs or interpretations of the group change.
How are principles and doctrines taught?
Principles are often taught as part of moral and ethical education, while doctrines are taught within the specific context of a group or institution.
Can a doctrine contradict a principle?
Yes, a group's doctrine can sometimes contradict more universally accepted principles, leading to ethical or philosophical conflicts.
What is a principle?
A principle is a fundamental truth, proposition, or belief that serves as the foundation for a system of belief or behavior.
Can an individual have their own doctrines?
While individuals can strongly adhere to specific beliefs, doctrines are typically associated with group teachings.
Are principles always moral in nature?
Not necessarily. While many principles involve moral or ethical guidelines, others can relate to factual laws of nature or basic rules of operation.
Is it possible for a doctrine to be universally accepted?
While a doctrine can be widely accepted within a particular group or even across groups, its specific nature makes universal acceptance unlikely.
Are legal principles considered doctrines?
Legal principles can become doctrines when they are established as part of the legal system, especially through precedent.
Do principles and doctrines apply only to philosophical or religious contexts?
No, they can apply to various contexts, including ethics, law, science, and more.
How do individuals navigate conflicts between principles and doctrines?
Individuals must critically evaluate and reconcile these conflicts based on their own values, beliefs, and the contexts in which the principles and doctrines apply.
How do principles and doctrines influence society?
They shape beliefs, behaviors, and systems of governance, influencing ethical standards, legal systems, and cultural practices.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
