Anything that's built up out of parts, you could at least in principle worry about the parts coming apart and hence the thing being destroyed.

任何由部分组成的东西,至少原则上讲你都可以担心,这个东西会四分五裂，走向毁灭。

耶鲁公开课 - 死亡课程节选

So in principle, in that election in 2000, there was at least four candidates, as it were, four things you could do with your vote.

原则上,在2000年那场大选中,应该有四个选举人,因为你可以投出四种选票

耶鲁公开课 - 博弈论课程节选