The Origins and the Division thereof.

ObligationesThe Origins and the Division thereof.José Luis Alonso & Jakub UrbanikThe RomanLaw of Obligation I Chair of Roman and Antique Law.University of WarsawSunday, 30 May 2010

[…] The Roman Law of obligations isindeed a great and unique achievementin the history of human civilization.Schulz, Classical Roman Law p. 463Sunday, 30 May 2010

What is an Obligation?✦✦✦G. 4.2 In personam actio est, qua agimus cum aliquo, qui nobis vel ex contractu vel exdelicto obligatus est, id est cum intendimus dare facere praestare oportere A personalaction is the one by which we sue the one, who has been obliged towards useither from a contract or from a delict, that is when we intend the he shallgive, do, perform.D. 44.7.3.pr. Paulus, 2. Inst.: Obligationum substantia non in eo consistit, ut aliquodcorpus nostrum aut servitutem nostram faciat, sed ut alium nobis obstringat ad dandumaliquid vel faciendum vel praestandum.The essence of obligations does not consistin that it makes some property or servitude ours, but that it binds anotherperson to give, to do or to perform something for us.I. 3.13. pr. Obligatio est iuris vinculum, quo necessitate adstringimur alicuius solvendae reisecundum nostrae civitatis iura.Obligation is a legal tie, by which are necessarilybound to perform a certain thing according to the laws of our state.Sunday, 30 May 2010

Obligation✦ DEBT paired with RIGHT TO CLAIM IT✦ DEBTOR - CREDITOR✦ How natural is this solution?Sunday, 30 May 2010

The Genesis of an ‘Obligation’The factors in the Archaic Times:ILLICIT DEEDS (later: DELICTS/TORTS):TALION & agreements on damages/ obligation to compensate in the Law of XIITablesTable VIII 2. si membrum rup(s)it, ni cum eo pacit, talio esto. If one has maimed a limb anddoes not compromise with the injured person, let there be retaliation.LICIT ACTS (later: PACTS, CONTRACTS:NEXUM, FIDUCIA (transactions by scale and bronze)actio per manus iniectionemlegisvas (vades), praes (praedes),stipulatioSunday, 30 May 2010

Sunday, 30 May 2010The Genesis contind.

Sunday, 30 May 2010The Genesis contind.

Sunday, 30 May 2010The Genesis contind.

The Genesis contind.Schulds- und Haftungstheorie: Alois von BrinzSunday, 30 May 2010

The Genesis contind.Schulds- und Haftungstheorie: Alois von BrinzDUTY versus LIABILITYSunday, 30 May 2010

The Genesis contind.Schulds- und Haftungstheorie: Alois von BrinzDUTY versus LIABILITYArguments in favour:Sunday, 30 May 2010

The Genesis contind.Schulds- und Haftungstheorie: Alois von BrinzDUTY versus LIABILITYArguments in favour:Legal anthropology/Comparative research: reineSachhaftungSunday, 30 May 2010

The Genesis contind.Schulds- und Haftungstheorie: Alois von BrinzDUTY versus LIABILITYArguments in favour:Legal anthropology/Comparative research: reineSachhaftungTraces in Roman Law? natural obligation, nexum, fiducia,vades & praedesSunday, 30 May 2010

Sourcesof the ObligationsIllicit and Licit DeedsSunday, 30 May 2010

Binomial division of the sources in theInstitutions of GaiusG. 3.88: Et nunc transeamus ad obligationes. Omnis enim obligatio velex contractu nascitur vel ex delicto.And now we shall pass to obligations. Every obligation riseseither from contract or from delict.Sunday, 30 May 2010

‘Other figures’D. 44.7.1 pr. Gaius 2 aureorum sive rerum cottidianarum:Obligationes aut ex contractu nascuntur aut ex maleficio autproprio quodam iure ex variis causarum figurisGaius, 2 book of The Golden or Everyday Things:Obligations arise from either from contract or fromwrongdoing or by some special right from various typesof causes.Sunday, 30 May 2010

G. 3.89-91:the 3 rd category foundFirst let us consider those that arise from contract. Of such there four kinds:for an obligation by contract arises either by a thing (re), by words (verbis), byletters (litteris), or by (simple) consent (consensu). A real obligation iscontracted, for instance, by conveyance on loan for consumption. such acontract takes place properly in the case of things that are reckoned byweight, number, or measure – such things as money, wine, oil, corn, bronze,silver, gold (...). 91. he too who receives what is not due to him from one whopays in error comes under a real obligation. For the condictio with the pleading‘if it appear that the defendant is bound to give’ lies against him precisely as ifhe had received the payment by way of loan (...) This sort of obligation,however, appears not to be founded on contract, because one who gives withintent to pay means to untie rather to tie a bound. (quia is qui solvendi animo dat,magis distrahere vult negotium quam contrahere).Sunday, 30 May 2010

G. 3.89-91:the 3 rd category foundFirst let us consider those that arise from contract. Of such there four kinds:for an obligation by contract arises either by a thing (re), by words (verbis), byletters (litteris), or by (simple) consent (consensu). A real obligation iscontracted, for instance, by conveyance on loan for consumption. such acontract takes place properly in the case of things that are reckoned byweight, number, or measure – such things as money, wine, oil, corn, bronze,silver, gold (...). 91. he too who receives what is not due to him from one whopays in error comes under a real obligation. For the condictio with the pleading‘if it appear that the defendant is bound to give’ lies against him precisely as ifhe had received the payment by way of loan (...) This sort of obligation,however, appears not to be founded on contract, because one who gives withintent to pay means to untie rather to tie a bound. (quia is qui solvendi animo dat,magis distrahere vult negotium quam contrahere).Sunday, 30 May 2010

The apparent contradiction in Gaiussolved:✦ Different character of the books (Institutions: ascholarly manual, Golden Things: a handbook forpractitioners)✦ Undue payment found in the InstitutionsSunday, 30 May 2010

LABEOD. 50.16.19 Ulpianus libro 11 ad Ed.: Labeo libro primo praetoris urbanidefinit, quod quaedam agantur, quaedam gerantur, quaedam contrahantur: etactum quidem generale verbum esse sive verbis, sive re quid agatur ut instipulatione vel numeratione: contractum autem ultrocitroque obligatione, quodGraeci συνάλλαγµα vocant, veluti emptionem venditionem, locationemconductionem, societatem: gestum rem significare sine verbis factam.Labeo in the first book on the edict of urban praetor defines that somethings are acted, other carried out, other contracted. And indeed‘acted’ is a general word whether something is acted by words orthings, like in stipulation or computation. ‘Contracted’ denotes bilateralobligation which the Greeks call synallagma, as for instance, sale orpurchase, hire or partnership. ‘Carried out’ means a thing done withoutwords.Sunday, 30 May 2010

other divisionsunilateral / bilateral (simultaneous -consecutive)stricti iuris bonae fideinatural obligationFor further explanation see Introduction IISunday, 30 May 2010

The Content of Obligationimpossibilium nulla obligatio est!what is impossibility?Sunday, 30 May 2010

impossibilium nulla obligatio est!Marcus has made an agreement with a very decentwidow Livia, that she should perform in his comedy.On the day of the performance however Livia doesnot appear in the theatre. Can he sue her?Sunday, 30 May 2010

Sunday, 30 May 2010impossibilium nulla obligatio est!

impossibilium nulla obligatio est!✦ Material impossibility : initial/supervening [only in regards to thingsindividually defined]Sunday, 30 May 2010

impossibilium nulla obligatio est!✦ Material impossibility : initial/supervening [only in regards to thingsindividually defined]✦ Legal (illicit acts)Sunday, 30 May 2010

impossibilium nulla obligatio est!✦ Material impossibility : initial/supervening [only in regards to thingsindividually defined]✦ Legal (illicit acts)✦ MoralSunday, 30 May 2010

Sunday, 30 May 2010the content of obligation

the content of obligation✦ nemo alteri stipulari postestSunday, 30 May 2010

the content of obligation✦ nemo alteri stipulari postestSunday, 30 May 2010

the content of obligation✦ nemo alteri stipulari postest✦ A: “Do you solemnly promise togive to C 1000?Sunday, 30 May 2010

the content of obligation✦ nemo alteri stipulari postest✦ A: “Do you solemnly promise togive to C 1000?✦ B: “I do solemnly promise”.Sunday, 30 May 2010

✦ Why obligations in favour of the3 rd party are not admitted?Sunday, 30 May 2010

✦ Why obligations in favour of the3 rd party are not admitted?✦ Publius asked Aulus “Do you promise to paymy father 1000 denarii?” to which heanswered “Yes, I do”. Is Aulus bound to pay?Sunday, 30 May 2010

the content of obligationprecisely defined content ofperformanceDefinable in MoneySunday, 30 May 2010

the content of obligation✦ G. 4.2 In personam actio est, qua agimus cum aliquo, qui nobis vel excontractu vel ex delicto obligatus est, id est cum intendimus dare facerepraestare oportere✦A personal action is the one by which we sue the one, whohas been obliged towards us either from a contract or from adelict, that is when we intend the he shall give, do, perform.✦DARE - FACERE - PRAESTARESunday, 30 May 2010

✦ DARE: to give (transfer ofownership)✦ FACERE: to perform (in.al. to handover possession)✦ PRAESTARE: to guarantee certaineffect.Sunday, 30 May 2010

Solidarity of Obligations✦ Active and passive solidarityCommon law: Joint and several liabilitySunday, 30 May 2010

Divisibility of obligations✦ Titius: “Centum mihi dari spondes?” -Caius: “spondeo” (Titius asks Caius:Do you solemnly promise to give me100? Caius: “I do solemnly promise” .✦Caius dies, leaving two heirs. Whathappens to the debt?✦✦Titius: “Equum Incitatum mihi darispondes?” - Caius: 'spondeo'. (Titiusasks Caius: “Do you solemnlypromise to give me the houseInitiates? Caius: “I do solemnlypromise”).Caius dies, leaving two heirs. Whathappens with the debt?Sunday, 30 May 2010

Divisibility of obligations✦ Titius: “Centum mihi dari spondes?” -Caius: “spondeo” (Titius asks Caius:Do you solemnly promise to give me100? Caius: “I do solemnly promise” .✦Caius dies, leaving two heirs. Whathappens to the debt?✦✦Titius: “Equum Incitatum mihi darispondes?” - Caius: 'spondeo'. (Titiusasks Caius: “Do you solemnlypromise to give me the houseInitiates? Caius: “I do solemnlypromise”).Caius dies, leaving two heirs. Whathappens with the debt?✦Content: DARE (transfer of ownership): Divisible (no matter whether itsobject is materially divisible)Sunday, 30 May 2010

Divisibility of obligations✦Caius sold to Titius the horsenamed Incitatus. Titius paidbut before the horse washanded over to the buyerCaius died.✦Caius sold to Titius 10 sacs ofwheat, before the wheat washanded over to the buyerCaius died.✦There are two heirs. Whathappens to the debt?✦There are two heirs. Whathappens to the debt?Sunday, 30 May 2010

Divisibility of obligations✦Caius sold to Titius the horsenamed Incitatus. Titius paidbut before the horse washanded over to the buyerCaius died.✦Caius sold to Titius 10 sacs ofwheat, before the wheat washanded over to the buyerCaius died.✦There are two heirs. Whathappens to the debt?✦There are two heirs. Whathappens to the debt?✦Content of the obligation: FACERE (a specified performance): Indivisible(no matter whether its object is materially divisible)Sunday, 30 May 2010

Obligatio: contentDaredivisibleFacereIndivisible(solidarity!)Sunday, 30 May 2010