Contracts and Promises in the Dynamics of Personal Relationships

Authors

  • 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. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0857-0580

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.

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Published

2025-05-20 — Updated on 2026-02-25

Versions

How to Cite

Papayannis, D. M. (2026). Contracts and Promises in the Dynamics of Personal Relationships. Revista De La Facultad De Derecho, (59), e20255901. https://doi.org/10.22187/rfd2025n59a1 (Original work published May 20, 2025)

Issue

No. 59 (2025)

Section

Special contributions

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Diego M. Papayannis

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

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