Discretion as a choice

Intention

I want to give a body a choice of its own action within set bounds.

Correct formFrozen execution sceneBoundary

Incorrect form and why it stays silent

Incorrect form

then discretion Choose { holder p; };

Discretion is not a fifth modality. Here it is a liberty of choice; if the choice changes someone else’s status, a power with valid_when and effect is needed.

Correct form

Arxo Law

language "law.core" version "0.2";
package recipes.a.r11 version "0.1.0";
namespace "urn:recipe:a-positions:11";

entity Person;
relation registered(p: Person);
relation done(p: Person);
relation option_chosen(p: Person);
rule R strict { for p: Person; when registered(p);
    then liberty Choose { holder p; action option_chosen(p); window [@2026-09-01, @2026-09-10]; };
}

Frozen execution scene

Facts and snapshot	Question	Answer
the choice is permitted; 2026-09-05	positions()	position(Choose, ACTIVE); / COMPUTED
the choice has not yet been made; 2026-09-05	truth(option_chosen(entity_ref("urn:recipe:a-positions:11:p")))	truth_status == NEITHER; / COMPUTED

choice liberty active

Arxo Law

test "choice liberty active" {
    given {
        context {
            legal_time @2026-09-05;
            decision_time @2026-09-05T09:00:00+05:00;
            knowledge_time @2026-09-30T09:00:00+05:00;
            timezone "Asia/Almaty";
        }
        assert registered(entity_ref("urn:recipe:a-positions:11:p"));
    }
    evaluate positions();
    expect position(Choose, ACTIVE);
    expect evaluation_status == COMPUTED;

}

unmade choice stays unknown

Arxo Law

test "unmade choice stays unknown" {
    given {
        context {
            legal_time @2026-09-05;
            decision_time @2026-09-05T09:00:00+05:00;
            knowledge_time @2026-09-30T09:00:00+05:00;
            timezone "Asia/Almaty";
        }
        assert registered(entity_ref("urn:recipe:a-positions:11:p"));
    }
    evaluate truth(option_chosen(entity_ref("urn:recipe:a-positions:11:p")));
    expect truth_status == NEITHER;
    expect evaluation_status == COMPUTED;

}

Counterfactual

Mutation: then liberty Choose → then discretion Choose; rejection LDC-E0201. Additional counterfactuals are shown as separate scenes.

Boundary

Reasonableness and proportionality of a decision may require a judgment. Liberty of choice does not mean that every chosen legal effect is valid.