Literary notes about principle (AI summary)
In literature, the term “principle” is employed in a remarkably diverse fashion, ranging from a literal description of physical mechanisms to abstract moral, aesthetic, or political ideas. It can denote a scientific or technical concept, as when a mechanism is explained by the “principle of the epicyclic train” ([1]), while it also serves to illustrate fundamental moral codes, such as the “principle of utility” that underpins ethical deliberations ([2]). Authors use it to encapsulate ideologies and guide actions—for instance, to elucidate strategies in war ([3]) or to assert personal integrity in character, as seen when a figure is noted for “wanting principle” ([4]). In these varied contexts, “principle” emerges as a core, unifying idea—whether it be in a discussion of art, governance, human nature, or natural law—reflecting its essential role in shaping both thought and narrative.