[lit-ideas] Re: Fw: Re: Can, logically, there be any such thing as a "performative co...
- From: omarkusto@xxxxxxxxx
- To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sat, 30 May 2009 17:05:32 -0700 (PDT)
It seems to me that many regular legal documents at least verge on this kind of
contradiction. For example, a contract will often contain clauses that specify
how and / or under which conditions it may be terminated. An even stranger
document is the Power of Attorney, which authorizes a person to represent
another person in legal matters, thus at least in part removing legal
authority from the issuer. There is also the Lasting Power of Attorney, which
grants a person the power to represent another person independently of their
future consent to such representation. (These are rarely issued, I suppose.)
O.K.
--- On Sun, 5/31/09, Richard Henninge <RichardHenninge@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
From: Richard Henninge <RichardHenninge@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [lit-ideas] Fw: Re: Can, logically, there be any such thing as a
"performative co...
To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Sunday, May 31, 2009, 12:17 AM
What about "the Undersigned hereby promises to undersign no promises" as
a performative contradiction? By signing it one promises not to do X and one
does X at the same time (X = to undersign a promise). One violates the terms of
an agreement or contract by entering into the agreement or contract. Engagement
entails violation, or, you make a commitment by breaking it.
Richard Henninge
University of Mainz
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