Support and promise status are checked separately. Name resources, subject, time, and consequence; changed scope remains a proposal until agreed. Kindness does not replace performance, and performance does not determine dignity.
Questions explored
Does kindness permit silently canceling a promise?
No. Limits are communicated and status retained honestly.
Must every promise be performed?
No. Content and consequences are examined; unacceptable action is not justified by fidelity to words.
Does a plan guarantee an outcome?
No. Actual action is checked, rather than wording.
How is repair recorded?
Separate the performed step and remaining relationship outcome; trust is not automatically declared restored.
Key distinctions
A promise has a specific subject and affects another person's plan. (United Wisdom editorial interpretation)
Kant's false-promise question retains its own moral context. (Attributed primary source and bounded comparison)
An implementation intention connects anticipated situation and response. (Attributed primary source and bounded comparison)
Goodwill is compared with honest treatment, without doctrinal equivalence. (Attributed primary source and bounded comparison)
Proposed change is not agreed without a response. (United Wisdom editorial interpretation)
Limits of interpretation
- Scenes are hypothetical.
- Do not promise clinical efficacy.
- Do not equate moral and empirical argument.
- Do not declare silence agreement.
- Do not promise third-party help without consent.
- Do not establish another's legal or technical situation.
Sources
- Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysic of Morals — Immanuel Kant
SectionI opening and false-promise argument with neighboring context; turn59view0 lines80–88 and turn60view0 lines167–190; not whole treatise
Source use: UNKNOWN
Moral foundation, not empirical law. · False promise distinguished from changed capacity; not every performance prescribed.
- Implementation Intentions: Strong Effects of Simple Plans — Peter M.Gollwitzer
Abstract and opening definition pp493–494; turn61view0; not entire paper
Source use: COPYRIGHTED_LIMITED_PARAPHRASE
A plan does not guarantee particular performance. · Selected pages read; promise moral worth not measured.
- Karaniya Metta Sutta: Good Will, Sn1.8 — Early Buddhist canon; translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu
Entire short text and rights notice; turn62view0 lines46–51
Source use: CC_BY_NC_4_0_COMMERCIAL_PERMISSION_NOT_ESTABLISHED
Buddhist aim not equated with psychology or Kantian duty. · Translation not reproduced; commercial permission not assumed.