Obligation

An obligation is a thing that an agent must answer for. There are only two sources. One is property that the agent transferred to a different agent, but has not given yet. The other is Restitution for harm that the agent caused. No other source exists. A promise alone makes no obligation, because a promise alone binds no agent. A Contract makes an obligation only as far as ownership moved. Duties that force, a vote, or a claim of necessity command are not obligations. They are Coercion.