Contracts and Promises in the Dynamics of Personal Relationships

  • Diego M. Papayannis Profesor Titular de filosofía del derecho e Investigador de la Cátedra de Cultura Jurídica, Universidad de Girona. Senior member del BIAP (Barcelona Institute of Analytic Philosophy), “María de Maeztu” Unit of Excellence (20232027), CEX2021001169M, Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades, MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.22187/rfd2025n59a1
Keywords: contracts, promises, personal relationships, autonomy, intrinsic value, intrsumental value, coordination, cooperation

Abstract

This paper explores the role of contracts and promises in managing our personal relationships. It critically examines the tradition of viewing contracts as promises, with particular focus on the theories of Charles Fried and Dori Kimel. After outlining the main theses of each theory, the paper discusses some of the challenges they face in accounting for the contractual phenomenon. It concludes by suggesting that while both promises and contracts
serve important functions of coordination, cooperation, and socialization, only contracts enable us to engage with others in highly complex collective endeavours. This capacity significantly expands personal autonomy in a way that promises and other informal arrangements cannot match.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.
Published
2025-05-20
How to Cite
Papayannis, D. M. (2025). Contracts and Promises in the Dynamics of Personal Relationships. Revista De La Facultad De Derecho, (59), e20255901. https://doi.org/10.22187/rfd2025n59a1
Issue
No 59 (2025)
Section
Special contributions

Copyright (c) 2025 Diego M. Papayannis

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

This journal provides open access to its content, based on the principle that providing the public with free access to research helps a greater global exchange of knowledge

Revista de la Facultad de Derecho. Creative Commons Reconocimiento 4.0 Internacional License.