Special sales depend on the principle of pro tanto. Buying depends on the principle, also. We bargain for partial payments. In law, pro tanto is a principle and term best suited to cases involving the government’s acquisition of private property and to cases involving partial payments on debts, but let’s apply it to human interactions that aren’t financial transactions.
We can’t really repay one another for all we do. There’s no quantifying behaviors on a quid pro quo basis, no quantifying of acts altruistic or acts inimical. In every instance of human interaction, repaying is always partial. Empathizing with someone in a time of trouble? One can’t repay even if one wants to repay. What is the currency of empathy? There’s no currency that allows us to make an even exchange. We always repay in a different currency, and the exchange rate between currencies fluctuates.
“I don’t know how I can repay you for your kindness.” “Please accept this as a token of my appreciation.” “For your service, we want to give you….” “I don’t know who she was; she just came up and helped and then left. I wish I could thank her for her kindness.”
How do we pay back? We make partial payments. And everyone seems to understand the principle of “for so much.” We say, “I owe you,” or “I owe you one,” or “I owe you a favor.” What we know is that when we “owe one,” we might end up paying only ¾. Maybe the repayment “for so much” is 1.25. How do we measure? How do we calculate? In matters of emotion, sometimes the mere intent to pay becomes the payment.
Let’s face it. We interact in qualitative, rather than in quantitative ways. And somehow we all seem to understand how partial payments can be accepted as “payment in full” rather than pro tanto.
We can’t really repay one another for all we do. There’s no quantifying behaviors on a quid pro quo basis, no quantifying of acts altruistic or acts inimical. In every instance of human interaction, repaying is always partial. Empathizing with someone in a time of trouble? One can’t repay even if one wants to repay. What is the currency of empathy? There’s no currency that allows us to make an even exchange. We always repay in a different currency, and the exchange rate between currencies fluctuates.
“I don’t know how I can repay you for your kindness.” “Please accept this as a token of my appreciation.” “For your service, we want to give you….” “I don’t know who she was; she just came up and helped and then left. I wish I could thank her for her kindness.”
How do we pay back? We make partial payments. And everyone seems to understand the principle of “for so much.” We say, “I owe you,” or “I owe you one,” or “I owe you a favor.” What we know is that when we “owe one,” we might end up paying only ¾. Maybe the repayment “for so much” is 1.25. How do we measure? How do we calculate? In matters of emotion, sometimes the mere intent to pay becomes the payment.
Let’s face it. We interact in qualitative, rather than in quantitative ways. And somehow we all seem to understand how partial payments can be accepted as “payment in full” rather than pro tanto.
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