Discussion Main / PrinciplesZealot

As far as Well Intentioned Extremists go, The Principles Zealot is the Mirror Trope of a Totalitarian Utilitarian. Both have a good cause that they push too far, but while the Totalitarian Utilitarian only care about results, the The Principles Zealot only care about a certain principle - be it truth, religious piety, the rule of law, or something completely different. Philosophically speaking, the Principles Zealot is a deontologist while the Totalitarian Utilitarian is a teleologist.

And just like the Totalitarian Utilitarian, some Principles Zealots go so far that they can no longer be called "well intentioned" in any reasonable meaning of the phrase. Not even if the principle they adhere to is a decent one. Caring only about the principle behind your actions without any regard whatsoever for the concequenses of your actions easily drifts into Complete Monster territory.

A Principles Zealot can be a Knight Templar or a Knight in Sour Armor, but doesn't have to be: Taking hir principles too far is enough for a character to qualify for this trope, even if the principles don't dominate his life or actions most of the time. However, the zealotous outlook have to be a fairly consistent character trait. If a character is zealotous about one principle and act or argue like a zealot in the rare cases when that principle is relevant, then he's a Principles Zealot. If he's suddenly zealoutous about something just because it's convenient for the plot and it isn't worked into his character, then it's just a specialized case of Idiot Ball.

In a fantasy setting, a Knight Templar is almost always a Principles Zealot. In a Science Fiction setting on the other hand, a Knight Templar is just as likely to be a Totalitarian Utilitarian as a Principles Zealot.

Not To Be Confused With a Straw Hypocrite who twists a principle to fit wantever is convenient for hir: A true Principles Zealot is honest about hir beliefs. Or with a Principled Zealot: A Principles Zealot is not just a zealot who, like all other zealots, have principles. Instead it is a person who focus on a certain deontological principle. While every Principles Zealot is a zealot, zealots come in other flavors as well.

However, a Principles Zealot can lack both empathy or deeper understanding of either the principle that he is following or the situation he's applying the principles to. For example, if you lack a basic understanding of the fact that Your Mileage May Vary, then the golden rule can be misapplied to either condone sexual harassment/abuse (if I would like a certain thing done to me, then I am free to do it to anyone) or condemn activities between consensual adults who both enjoy it (either the same reasoning as abouve but turned around, or simply disregarding consent and going "if this was done without consent then it would be rape, so it must be condemn it it even if it is consensual".)