Daniele Bruno, ‘Trust-Based Theories of Promising’

ABSTRACT
This paper discusses the prospects of a comprehensive philosophical account of promising that relies centrally on the notion of trust. I lay out the core idea behind the Trust View, showing how it convincingly explains the normative contours and the unique value of our promissory practice. I then sketch three distinct options of how the Trust View can explain the normativity of promises. First, an effect based-view, second, a view drawing on a wider norm demanding respect to those whom one has invited to something, and finally, as a new suggestion, a Normative Interest View. This view holds that promising is a normative power that serves our interest in facilitating or enabling the relationship of trust between promisor and promisee. I argue that only those embracing the third view can fully account for the distinctive obligation that results from the giving of a valid promise in all cases.

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Daniele Bruno, Trust-Based Theories of Promising, The Philosophical Quarterly, https://doi.org/10.1093/pq/pqz086. Published: 20 February 2020.

First posted 2020-02-21 06:41:18

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