Commitment and Obligation definitions depend on each other

[kstudzin]

Commitment is defined as "an obligation (possibly unilateral)." Obligation is defined as "A future commitment from one organization or person to another." Essentially, a commitment is an obligation with one or more participants, and an obligation is a commitment with two participants. The commitment definition could be improved by replacing the reference to the lower class.

Ideas for other phrases to use:

• an engagement or obligation that restricts freedom of action (Oxford languages)
• an agreement or pledge to do something in the future (Merriam-Webster)
• a promise or firm decision to do something (Cambridge)

[uscholdm]

This definitely needs cleaned up. Can you provide explicit proposals for both commitment and obligation so it's easy to evaluate?

[kstudzin]

Here's my suggestion:

Commitment - a promise or firm decision, by at least one party, to do something.
Obligation - a commitment made between two parties.

I like that these mirror our OWL definitions

[uscholdm]

Commitment - a promise or firm decision, by at least one party, to do something. Obligation - a commitment made between two parties.

I like that these mirror our OWL definitions

These are good. Perhaps add something about the promise may be contingent on something else - maybe in a scope note to keep the definition short and sweet.

[kstudzin]

Perhaps a scope note saying 'In some cases, the promise or decision may become firm pending the occurrence of a contingent event'

[uscholdm]

Perhaps a scope note saying 'In some cases, the promise or decision may become firm pending the occurrence of a contingent event'

Or slight rewording:

• In some cases, the promise or decision may be contingent on the occurrence of some event

[rjyounes]

Combine with #1166.