EXCLUSIVE: Brian O’Kelley says he’s capped his wealth to $100 million. The tech founder tells Fortune, billionaires are wasteful, out of touch, and “othered” from real life.
A young Russian nobleman intends to give his estate to peasants upon inheriting them. He also realizes that over time, his ideals might fade. Thus, he puts his ideas down into a legal document that can only be revoked by his wife. He makes her promise not to consent if he changes his mind later on.
At the time, he argues these core beliefs are an essential part of him, stating: “If I lose these ideals, I want you to think that I cease to exist.”
Now suppose 50 years later, he changes his mind and asks his wife to revoke the documents. The wife made a promise to the young nobleman. Is the old nobleman, with all his memories and new beliefs, the same person as the young nobleman? What should she do?
Obviously as she promised, it doesn’t matter what happens after that. Promises are made to be kept, don’t make them unless you keep them. Only good reasons I can think of for breaking a promise would be something like if you were lied to when making that promise, or saving lives or maybe prevent nature destruction etc. Old dude changing his mind isn’t a proper reason; if he feels like he was young and stupid back then, that’s his problem
TIL
Count Theseuski
Obviously as she promised, it doesn’t matter what happens after that. Promises are made to be kept, don’t make them unless you keep them. Only good reasons I can think of for breaking a promise would be something like if you were lied to when making that promise, or saving lives or maybe prevent nature destruction etc. Old dude changing his mind isn’t a proper reason; if he feels like he was young and stupid back then, that’s his problem
If the old nobleman is considered a different person than his younger self - then the entire concept of promises is voided.