合同法法中的consideration（约因或对价）

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1、Unit3Consideration（约因或对价）约因是英美法中一个重要而且复杂的概念。对确定一个合约是否有效，包括商贸活动中常有的事后更改合约(variation)，追加协议（additionalagreement),和解协议等是否有效，非常重要。英国法律认为约因是“订约双方愿意去受法律约束的唯一证据”(onlyevidenceoftheintentionofthepartiestobebound)What’sconsideration法律上认可的对价（约因）的定义：“对受诺人有损失，或对承诺人有利益”[Avaluableconsiderati

2、on,inthesenseofhelaw,mayconsisteitherinsomeright,interest,profitorbenefitaccruingtotheoneparty,orsomeforbearance,detriment,lossorresponsibilitygiven,sufferedorundertakenbytheother.]约因要有价值，一般最常见的是金钱。但也可以是其他的形式，如权益的放弃，提供服务或消息，修改原先合约，以后的生意，及可以想象到的“好处”。AdequacyofConsiderationGene

3、ralRule:Thefirstruleofthedoctrine教条ofconsiderationisthatconsiderationmustbesufficientbutitneednotbeadequate.Itmeansthataslongasthepromisee’sactorpromisesatisfiesthelegalvaluetest,thecourtsdonotaskwhetherthatactorpromisewasworthwhatthepromisorgave,orpromisedtogive,inreturnfori

4、t.MoralobligationCase:Whitev.BluettAsonpromisednottoborehisfatherwithcomplaintsaboutthefather’sdistributionofhispropertyamonghischildrenwasheldnottobegoodconsiderationforthefather’spromisenottosuetheson.Theoppositecase:Hamerv.Sidway:anunclepromisedtopayhisnephew5000ifthenephe

5、wrefrainedfromdrinkingliquor,usingtobacco,swearingandplayingcardsuntlhewas21.Thispromisewasheldtobeenforceablebecausethenephewhadalegalrighttoengageinsuchactivities,andingivinguphisrightshehadprovidedconsiderationforthepromise.PreexistingLegalDuties1)Thequestionwhetherperform

6、anceofadutywhichoneisalreadyunderanobligationtoperformcanconstituteconsiderationforapromisegiveninreturniscurrentlyaverycontroversialoneinEnglishcontractlaw.2)Theorthodox传统的positionisclear:performanceofanexistingdutyimposedbylawdoesnotconstituteconsideration.3)case:Wardv.Byha

7、m.PreexistingContractualDutiesUntilrecentlytherulewhichEnglishlawadoptedwasthatperformanceofanexistingcontractualdutyowedtoapromisorwasnoconsiderationforfreshpromisegivenbythatpromisor.Case:史蒂克尔诉迈立克案在1809年史蒂克尔诉迈立克案中，被告(船长)因两个海员潜逃而向其余海员许诺：如果他们把船开回国去，将额外分享那两个海员的工资，但后来被告与海员之间发生纠

8、纷。法庭裁定，由于海员们本应负有将船驶回国的合同义务，因而被告的许诺并没有对价，故不具有合同效力。但也存在例外。Williamsv.Ro