Canon (basic principle)

The term canon derives from the Greek κανών (kanon), meaning "rule", and thence via Latin and Old French into English.^[1] The concept in English usage is very broad: in a general sense it refers to being one (adjectival) or a group (noun) of official, authentic or approved rules or laws, particularly ecclesiastical; or group of official, authentic, or approved literary or artistic works, such as the literature of a particular author, of a particular genre, or a particular group of religious scriptural texts;^[2] or similarly, one or a body of rules, principles, or standards accepted as axiomatic and universally binding in a religion, or a field of study or art.^[3]

Examples

This principle of grouping has led to more specific uses of the word in different contexts, such as the Biblical canon (which a particular religious community regards as authoritative) and thence to literary canons (of a particular "body of literature in a particular language, or from a particular culture, period, genre").^[1]

W.C Sayers (1915–1916) established a system of canons of library classification.^[4]

S. R. Ranganathan developed a theory of facet analysis, which he presented as a detailed series of 46 canons, 13 postulates and 22 principles.^[5]

There is also the concept of the canons of rhetoric, including five key principles that, when grouped together, are the principles set for giving speeches.^[6]

See also

• Artistic canons of body proportions – Criteria used in formal figurative art
  • Canon of Lysippos – 4th-century BC Greek sculptor
  • Canon of Polykleitos – Fifth century BCE Greek sculptor
• Axiom: a statement that is taken to be true, to serve as a starting point for further reasoning and arguments.
• Canon (fiction) – Continuity between different fictional works
• Canon law – Set of ordinances and regulations made by ecclesiastical authority
• Canonical – Standard or referential form
• Der Kanon – Canon of exemplary German literature, chosen by Marcel Reich-Ranicki
• Norm (philosophy): concepts (sentences) of practical import, oriented to effecting an action
• Principle: rule that has to be followed or is an inevitable consequence of something, such as the laws observed in nature
• Rule of inference: in logic, a logical form consisting of a function which takes premises, analyzes their syntax, and returns a conclusion (or conclusions)
• Rhetoric: the art of persuasion. The five canons of rhetoric or phases of developing a persuasive speech were first codified in classical Rome: invention, arrangement, style, memory, and delivery.
• Western canon: the body of literature, music, philosophy, and works of art that is highly valued in Western culture