• Prescriptive - imperative, in the form of a command
• Universal - equally binding on all moral agents
• Public - part of a social matrix, transparent to all moral agents
• Overriding - outweighing other non-moral considerations
• Practicable - within the capacity of ordinary moral agents

The 'Principle of Practicability' maintains that, in order to adequate, a moral principle must not be so demanding on moral agents that they cannot reasonably be expected to act in accordance with it. Moral principles should not be rarely met ideals, but practical guides to action.