ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on six Harm Principles. The underlying ideas embodied in the principles have appeared in different religious, ethical and legal forms, but have never been set out in the simple, universally applicable and understandable language of harms. The principles are: do no harm, freedom from harm, harming in self-defence, proportionality in harming in self-defence, balance of harms and prevent and reduce harms. When inflicting harm in self-defence the amount of harm inflicted should be proportional to the threat or harm being defended against. The Balance of Harms principle provides a model for resolving these situations. There is a difference between attacking a religion, its dogma and practices, and harming individuals because of their religious affiliation. Harm to the individual is proscribed by the Harm Principles. Societies use the threat of harm through legally sanctioned punishment of its members to protect other members from being harmed.
