Author(s)

Shi Li

Corresponding Author

Shi Li

ABSTRACT

Why should people do as they promised? What are the moral bases of promissory obligations? By countering Thomas Scanlon’s expectation theory of promises, as well as David Owen’s authority-interest interpretation, this study offers a different viewpoint, which will be referred to as the self-binding interpretation of promises. This interpretation considers the promise as a bond to one’s action, created by one’s own word. Promises are a declaration of what a promisor really wants to do – that is, of the promisor’s “real will”. By keeping promises, a promisor can realize her “real self” and can become free in a positive sense.

KEYWORDS

Promise, Positive Freedom, Negative Freedom, Obligation