moral minimum

plural moral minimums · plural moral minima

1. ethicsA standard or principle upheld as indispensable for moral conduct, whether within a particular context or in general.

   These moral minima are found in the many criminal laws.

   1942, Richard C. Fuller, “Morals and the Criminal Law”, in Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology (1931-1951), volume 32, number 6, page 628

   2 more examples

   John Stuart Mill . . . was not long in proving that the moral minimum of wages was a myth.

   1887, Franklin H. Giddings, “The Natural Rate of Wages”, in Political Science Quarterly, volume 2, number 4, page 625

   Walzer speculates that a comparison of the moral codes found in various societies might produce "a set of standards to which all societies can be held—negative injunctions, most likely, rules against murder, deceit, torture, oppression, and tyranny." These standards would constitute "the moral minimum."

   2001, Charles R. Beitz, “Human Rights as a Common Concern”, in American Political Science Review, volume 95, number 2, page 272

2. ethicsThe specific rule that one should do no intentional harm, often considered the bare minimum required for ethical behavior.

   First, consider the moral minimum, do no harm.

   2005, Patricia Illingworth, Trusting Medicine: The Moral Costs of Managed Care, Routledge, →ISBN, page 100