A Theory of Contract Law: Empirical Insights and Moral Psychology

349 Pages·2011·1.688 MB·English

by  Peter A. Alces

a theory of contract law: empirical insights and moral psychology
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A Theory of Contract Law: Empirical
Insights and Moral Psychology
by Peter A. Alces
Rita Anne Rollins Professor of Law
the college of william & mary school of law
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Alces, Peter A., 1956-
A theory of contract law : empirical insights and moral psychology / Peter A. Alces.
p. cm
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-19-537160-4 (hardback)
1. Contracts. 2. Contracts–Philosophy. I. Title.
K840.A946 2011
346.0201–dc22
______________________________________________
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Printed in the United States of America on acid-free paper
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For Kelli,
My inspiration
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Contents
Premises (and equivocations) xi
Acknowledgements xv
Chapter One: Failure of Normative Contract Th eory 1
A. Th e Landscape 1
B. Human Agency 4
C. Th eory’s Job 4
D. An Alternative Sense of Th eory 11
Chapter Two: Constituents of Canonical Status 13
A. Constitution of a Contract Canon 14
B. Constituents of Canonical Status 15
C. Th e Literary Analogy 17
D. What We Read 18
E. Why We Read 19
F. Th e Canon Sets Limits 21
G. Achieved Anxieties 22
H. What We Are Looking For 23
I. Th e Th ree Phases of Contract Doctrine 24
Chapter Th ree: Contract Formation Doctrine 27
A. Raffl es v. Wichelhaus 28
B. Lucy v. Zehmer 31
C. Sherwood v. Walker 35
D. Hawkins v. McGee 3 9
E. Carlill v. Carbolic Smoke Ball Co. 40
F. ProCD, Inc. v. Zeidenberg 42
G. Mills v. Wyman 53
vii
viii Contents
H. Hamer v. Sidway 58
I. Allegheny College v. National Chautauqua County Bank 60
J. Wood v. Lucy, Lady Duff Gordon 63
K. Hoff man v. Red Owl Stores, Inc. 67
L. Dickinson v. Dodds 70
Chapter Four: Th eory of Contract Formation 75
A. Off er and Acceptance: Th e Objective–Subjective Tension 76
B. Mistake 85
C. Th e Quid Pro Quo Requirement 93
C hapter Five: Contract Performance Doctrine 115
A. Jacob & Youngs, Inc. v. Kent 115
B. Williams v. Walker-Th omas Furniture Co. 122
C. Henningsen v. Bloomfi eld Motors, Inc. 129
D. Taylor v. Caldwell and Krell v. Henry 134
E. Lawrence v. Fox1 39
F. Alaska Packers’ Association v. Domenico 144
G. Pacifi c Gas & Electric Co. v. G. W. Th omas Drayage &
Rigging Co. 148
Chapter Six: Th eory of Contract Performance 154
A. Unconscionability 156
B. Impossibility, Impracticability, and Frustration 170
C. Modifi cation 182
D. Th ird Parties 191
E. Th e Parol Evidence Rule 195
Chapter Seven: Contract Enforcement Doctrine 202
A. Peevyhouse v. Garland Coal & Mining Co. 203
B. Hoff man v. Red Owl Stores 209
C. Ricketts v. Scothorn 211
D. Britton v. Turner 215
E. Rockingham County v. Luten Bridge Co. 222
F. Hadley v. Baxendale 225
G. Security Stove & Manufacturing Co. v. American Railway
Express Co. 233
Chapter Eight: Th eory of Contract Enforcement 237
A. Th e Limits of Liability 237
B. Estoppel-Based Liability 258
Contents ix
Chapter Nine: Toward an Empirical Morality 268
A. Th e Limits of the Deontic–Consequentialist Dichotomy 274
B. Moral Psychology 276
C. Th e Limits of Normativity: Only So Much Doctrine Can Do 289
Appendix 293
Bibliography 311
Index 321