more from Bernard Williams

Single Idea 4252

[catalogued under 23. Ethics / B. Contract Ethics / 3. Promise Keeping]

Full Idea

The institution of promise keeping operates to provide portable reliability, by offering a formula that will confer high deliberative priority on what might not otherwise receive it.

Gist of Idea

Promise keeping increases reliability, by making deliberation focus on something which would be overlooked

Source

Bernard Williams (Ethics and the Limits of Philosophy [1985], Ch.10)

Book Reference

Williams,Bernard: 'Ethics and the Limits of Philosophy' [Fontana 1985], p.186


A Reaction

This is a bit pessimistic. We do not perceive promise keeping as a mere suggestion that we should bear something in mind when making a decision. 'May I rot in hell if I fail you'.