合同成立探微

本文赞同当事人、意思表示一致和标的共同构成合同成立要件。无视标的作为合同的元素会带来不小的负面后果。意思表示一致即合意,对其判断和把握,在绝大多数的情况下,客观说/表示内容的一致论对双方当事人的利益平衡得更好,在合同欺诈、胁迫等场合采主观说/内心意思的一致论较为妥当。中国法及其理论也应当如此区分类型,确定有所差异的法律后果。在通常情况下,沉默不构成承诺,因为要约人没有理由因为受要约人的沉默而相信受要约人做出了承诺。而且,要约人无法通过约定沉默构成承诺以免受要约人不经意间做出承诺。但在特殊的情况下,可以将沉默视为承诺,如双方当事人之间已经形成如下交易惯例,或当地业已存在着如下交易习惯:一方当事人向相对人发出要约,相对人未在要约指定的期间内答复也视为接受。在这种背景下,受要约人在收到要约后沉默,视为已经承诺。关于确认书的地位及效力,本文认为,在有确认书的场合,合同何时成立,首先由当事人的意思表示来决定,由于于此场合不涉及公序良俗的问题,应当贯彻意思自治原则。如果通过解释当事人的意思这条路径仍难得出妥当的结论,则有必要借鉴德国和美国的立法、判例和学说所形成的规则或意见,丰富中国民法的理论,服务于中国民法的实践。

A Review of Contract Formation

This paper argues that the elements of contract formation include:the parties,a meeting of the minds and the object.Ignoring the subject matter as an element of the contract will bring some negative consequences.In most cases,the objective theory of assent should be applied to decide a meeting of the minds,so that the interests of both parties can be better balanced.It is more appropriate,however,to apply the subjective theory of assent in situations such as contract fraud and coercion.The Chinese law and theory should distinguish the circumstances accordingly and varied legal effects should be applied.Under usual circumstances,silence does not constitute promise,because the offeror has no reason to believe that the offeree has made a promise in silence.Moreover,the offeror cannot make a deal that silence can constitute promise,in order to avoid making promise unconsciously.Under special circumstances,however,silence can be regarded as promise.For example,trading practices have been formed between the two parties,or the following local trading conventions already exist:the opposite party fails to reply an offer within the period specified is also regarded as acceptance.In this context,the offeree is deemed to have accepted the offer in silence.In regards to the function and effect of a confirmation letter,this paper argues that in case a confirmation letter exists,the formation of a contract depends on the expression of will.Since the issue of public policy and good customs is not involved,the rule of will autonomy should be applied.If it is still difficult to draw an appropriate conclusion by explaining the meaning of the parties,it is necessary for the Chinese Civil Law and practice to learn from the rules or opinions formed by the legislation,precedents,and theories in Germany and the United States.