promissóriaconsists

Promissóriaconsists is a theoretical notion used in discussions of promise ethics and contract theory to describe a specific class of commitments. A promissóriaconsist arises when an agent makes a promise that coordinates the actions of others, but does not by itself amount to a legally enforceable contract or instrument such as a promissory note. In this sense, the term sits between moral obligation and legal obligation, emphasizing social expectations and reciprocity over statutory enforcement.

Key characteristics include: dependence on mutual belief and social norms; content that is contingent on future events or actions; non-binding status in formal law; and potential for enforcement through reputational or relational mechanisms rather than court action. It differs from a promissory note or a contract in that it typically lacks formal essential elements like offer, acceptance, consideration, or writing requirements, and relies on shared norms to sustain compliance.

Origin and use: the term is a neologism used in some philosophical and fictional contexts to analyze how promises function in coordination problems and multi-agent settings. Applications include ethical analysis of everyday promises, game-theoretic models of cooperation, and AI governance discussions about commitment devices.

Criticisms include questions about vagueness, varying cultural norms, and the brittleness of social enforcement. See also: promise, contract, promissory note, social contract.