I think the discussion here is about how we should use the term "fault". I don't think it's the case that we all have shared definition of exactly what "fault"

I think the discussion here is about how we should use the term "fault". I don't think it's the case that we all have shared definition of exactly what "fault" means, leaving us only to deduce from that where the fault for defects lies. So I don't think the maxim you stated is helpful here.