The beach or the boxes

About this video

On Monday, Ana promised her friend Ben: "I'll help you carry your things to your new flat on Saturday." On Friday, her cousin calls: "We're going to the beach tomorrow. Come with us!" Ana would much rather go to the beach. Ben's boxes are heavy and the stairs are steep. Does Monday's promise still matter on Saturday?

Before Monday, Ana had no special reason to spend her Saturday carrying boxes. The promise changed that: by saying "I'll help you", she gave herself a reason that she didn't have before. Something you owe to someone, because of what you did or who you are to them, is an obligation, and a promise is the clearest way of making one. A promise is not just words. Ben planned his day around her help and asked nobody else; if Ana goes to the beach, he is worse off than if she had never promised at all. And promises only work because people keep them. We plan our lives around each other's promises, and each kept promise builds trust while each broken one wears it away.

Can a promise ever be broken? Most people think yes, sometimes. If on Saturday morning Ana's little brother falls and only she can take him to the doctor, there are reasons on both sides, and the reason to help her brother is much stronger than a promise about boxes. Even then the promise doesn't just vanish: Ana still owes Ben a call as early as she can, a sorry, and help another day. A beach trip is not that kind of reason; a sick brother is. This video goes with the Keeping a Promise lesson of Ethics Level 1 on Knaph.

Transcript

1. 0:00Monday. Ana promises to help Ben carry his boxes on Saturday.
2. 0:05Friday. Her cousin calls. The beach, tomorrow! The boxes are heavy.
3. 0:11The promise gave Ana a reason she didn't have before. An obligation.
4. 0:17Ben asked nobody else. Every kept promise builds trust.
5. 0:23A sick brother can outweigh it. Then Ana still owes Ben a call.
6. 0:29A promise is a reason you make yourself.