Prudentialism is a
moral principle based on precautionary principles that are acting to avoid a particular negative effect.
For example, acting in
self-defence
Self-defense (self-defence primarily in Commonwealth English) is a countermeasure that involves defending the health and well-being of oneself from harm. The use of the right of self-defense as a legal justification for the use of force i ...
or, indeed, pre-emptive attacks on
"rogue" states.
Prudentialism is also a philosophy of
constitutional interpretation
A constitution is the aggregate of fundamental principles or established precedents that constitute the legal basis of a polity, organisation or other type of entity and commonly determine how that entity is to be governed.
When these princip ...
that considers laws and powers from a pragmatic viewpoint.
According to government scholar John E. Finn, prudentialism "counsels judges to avoid setting broad rules for future cases and offers a particular understanding of the limited role courts should play in a constitutional democracy."
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References
Ethical principles
Theories of law
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