论当代美国合同法的古典复兴思潮及其启示——以司法判例为视角

The Revival of Classicalism in Contemporary American Contract Law——A Case Study of Judicial Precedents

美国合同法在近年来的大量司法判决中出现了古典主义的复兴,即新古典法学趋势。合同成立受到更严格限制,法官对合同约定的解释趋于概念化,默示义务与默示善意条款的作用受到压制,抽象合同自由原则再次成为合同约束力的权威源泉。从法律演进角度看,当代法律的古典复兴反映了法的继承性规律,古典合同法本身蕴含的历史价值以及现实主义法学的忧虑是古典复兴的重要原因。同时,古典法学思潮的复兴在本质上体现了法律思维方法和法律价值取向的时代变迁。

A neo-classieist trend is revived in many judicial judgments during the recent 30 years. Courts have also substantially resurrected the method of classical-era contract interpretation. Restitution claims, also known as implied-in-law contract claims, and implied covenants are increasingly out of favor. Freedom of con- tract has been regarded as the fundamental basis of the binding force of contracts. The occurrence of neo-elassi- cism has also expressed the development of legal thinking methods and value orientations of laws.