ABSTRACT
The literature of the logic of commands has generally focused upon certain extremely simple types of commands of the ‘performing-an-action-here-and-now’ type, based on a set of paradigms. Adaptation of the machinery of computer instruction-sequences affords a useful device not only for presenting examples of complex commands, but also for examining the implication relationships among command groups, and the like. A complex command-instruction can generally be rendered more explicit by some suitably intricate manipulative device. Special difficulties arise in the presentation by this machinery of commands which allow the addressee discretion in the timing of his compliance-actions. The treatment of such commands within the framework of the machinery must in any case be an unorthodox one because the element of choice inheres in the discretionary feature of these commands and generates characteristic difficulties.
