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Timestamp: 2015-09-03 21:38:50
Document Index: 428903273

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 3', '§ 130', '§ 74', '§\n45', '§ 202', '§ 191', '§ 235']

P. 1Fuller Consideration and FormFuller Consideration and FormRatings: (0)|Views: 1,013|Likes: 0Published by Andreea TomayyMore info:Published by: Andreea Toma on Apr 28, 2013Copyright:Attribution Non-commercialAvailability:Read on Scribd mobile: iPhone, iPad and Android.download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online from ScribdFlag for inappropriate content|Add to collectionSee moreSee lesshttps://www.scribd.com/doc/138340391/Fuller-Consideration-and-Form05/07/2014pdftextoriginal Consideration
Fuller Source: Columbia
Vol. 41, No. 5 (May, 1941), pp.
by:Columbia Law Review Association, Inc.
URL:http://www.jstor.org/stable/1117840
Accessed: 26/03/2013 05:45
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What is attempted in this article is an inquiry into the rationale of legal formalities, and an examination of the common-law doctrine of consideration in terms of its underlying policies. That such an investigation will reveal a significant relationship between consideration and form is a proposition not here suggested for the first time; indeed the question has been raised (and sometimes answered affirmatively) whether consideration cannot in the end be reduced entirely to terms of form.That consideration may have both a "formal" and a "substantive"aspect is apparent when we reflect on the reasons which have been advanced why promises without consideration are not enforced.
has been said that consideration is "for the sake of evidence" and is intended to remove the hazards of mistaken or perjured testimony whichwould attend the enforcement of promises for which nothing is givenin exchange.' Again, it is said that enforcement is denied gratuitous promises because such promises are often made impulsively and without proper deliberation.P In both these cases the objection relates, notto the content and effect of the promise, but to the manner in which itis made. Objections of this sort, which touch the form rather than thecontent of the agreement, will be removed if the making of the promiseis attended by some formality or ceremony, as by being under seal. Onthe other hand, it has been said that the enforcement of gratuitous promises is not an object of sufficient importance to our social and economic order to justify the expenditure of the time and energy necessaryto accomplish it." Here the objection is one of "substance" since it
A number of friends and colleagues read the manuscript of this article atvarious stages of its preparation and made valuable criticisms and suggestions.
am especially indebted to Karl Llewellyn, Benno Schmidt, Malcolm Sharp, DanielBoorstin, Douglas Maggs, and David Cavers.
in Pillans v.Van Mierop, 3 Burr. 1663, 1669,97 Eng. Rep.1035, 1038
1765) ; Sharington v. Strotton, 1 Plow. 297a, 3{)2,75 Eng.Rep.454, 459-60
1565) (argument of counsel); Whittier,
The Restatement of Contracts and Consideration
(1930) 18 CALIF.L. REV.611, 613.2. Wilmot, ]., in Pillans v. Van Mierop,3 Burr. 1663, 1670,97 Eng. Rep. 1035,1038
1765); Sharington v. Strotton, 1 Plow. 297a, 308, 75 Eng. Rep. 454,469
1565) (argument of counsel) ; Davis v. Morgan, 117 Ga. 504, 507, 43S. E. 732, 733 (1903); Ames,
Two Theories of Consideration
(1899) 13HARV.L. REV.29, 42; Ballantine,
The Source of Obligation in Bilateral Contracts
(1916) 3VA. L. REV.432, 437; Whittier,
(1930) 18 CALIF.L. REV.611, 613.3. Ballantine,
(1914) 28 HARV.L.
121;Willis,
Rationale of the Law of Contracts
(1936) 11
227, 230; Davisv. Morgan, 117 Ga. 504, 507,43 S. E.732,733 (1903).
COLUMBIA LAW REVIEW touches the significance of the promise made and not merely the circumstances surrounding the making of it.The task proposed in this article is that of disentangling the"formal" and "substantive" elements in the doctrine of consideration.Since the policies underlying the doctrine are generally left unexaminedin the decisions and doctrinal discussions, it will be necessary to post pone taking up the common-law requirement itself until we have examined in general terms the formal and substantive bases of contractliability.1.
Functi.on.-The
most obvious functionof a legal formality is, to use Austin's words, that of providing"evidence of the existence and purport of the contract, in case of controversy." The need for evidentiary security may be satisfied in avariety of ways: by requiring a writing, or attestation, or the certification of a notary. It may even be satisfied, to some extent, by such a device as the Roman
stipulaiio,
which compelled an oral spelling out of the promise in a manner sufficiently ceremonious to impress its terms on participants and possible bystanders.§ 3.
The Cautionary Function.-A
formality may also per form a cautionary or deterrent function by acting as a check againstinconsiderate action. The seal in its original form fulfilled this purposeremarkably well. The affixing and impressing of a wax wafer-symbolin the popular mind of legalism and weightiness-was an excellent device for inducing the circumspective frame of mind appropriate in one pledging his future. To a less extent any requirement of a writing, of course, serves the same purpose, as do requirements of attestation, notarization, etc.
4. On the general problem of the rationale of legal formalities see Austin,
Fragments-On
ontracts,
printed in 2
(4th ed.1879) 939-944; Llewellyn,
What Price Contract!
(1931) 40 YALE
704;Mechem,
The Requirement of Delivery in Gifts of Chattels
(1926-1927) 21 ILL.
REV. 341, 457, 568; Bentham,
The Rational e of Judicial Evidence,
printed in 6WORKS, (Bowring's ed. 1839) 64-86, 508-585; Chafee,
Acceleration Provisions inTime Paper (1919) 32 HARV.
REV. 747, 750; Sharp,
Promissory Liability.
(1940) 7 UNIV.
REV. 250, 252 and
SYSTEM DESHEUTIGEN ROMISCHEN RECHTS (1840) § 130; 2
(1853) § 74; IF
RECHTS (8th ed. 1923) §§
45-47d;
3 GENY,
ET TECHNIQUE (1921) §§ 202-206;
PRIVE (1911) 63-87; 1
(1923) §§ 191-212; 1
KOHLER, LEHRBUCH DES BURGERLICHENRECHTS
(1906) §§ 235-237; Huber,
Formen in» schtoei serischen Privatrecht (1911), in Heft58,
GMUR, ABHANDLUNGEN
RECHT (1914)
79-126.
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