Which legal principle entitles individuals to defend themselves from unlawful harm?

The principle that entitles individuals to defend themselves from unlawful harm is self-defense. This legal concept allows a person to use reasonable force to protect themselves from an imminent threat. Self-defense is grounded in the right to protect one's own life and bodily integrity. In many jurisdictions, individuals are justified in using force if they believe they are under threat of harm, provided the level of force used is proportionate to the perceived threat.

The principle operates under specific guidelines, such as the requirement that the threat must be immediate and that the response must not exceed what is necessary for protection. Self-defense is recognized in both criminal and civil law, meaning individuals can assert it in situations where they have been charged with a crime or when they are defending against a claim of liability for harm caused during the incident.

When discussing other options, duty to retreat refers to a legal requirement in some states that individuals must attempt to withdraw from a confrontation before using force. Negligence relates to failure to take reasonable care to avoid causing injury or loss to another person, which does not directly address defensive actions. An affirmative defense is a legal reasoning that admits the actions but asserts a justification or excuse, but self-defense itself is more specific and direct in its allowances for protection against harm.