---
title: "A Partial Taxonomy of Knowledge about Actions"
authors:
  - "Eugene Charniak"
doi: ""
url: "https://ijcai.org/proceedings/1975/15"
pdf: "https://ijcai.org/proceedings/1975/0015.pdf"
venue: "Proceedings of the Fourth International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence"
year: 1975
pages: "91-97"
track: "Representation Of Problems and Knowledge"
keywords:
---

# A Partial Taxonomy of Knowledge about Actions

Eugene Charniak

*Proceedings of the Fourth International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence*, pages 91-97.

## Abstract

An incomplete taxonomy is proposed for the knowledge of actions a computer must have if it is to understand stories about people performing these actions . The classification is along two dimensions, ~ - why a person should follow the rule, and ~ - what the rule looks like. Four kinds of force are distinguished, Strict, Social, Suggested, and Regulatory, while six forms are distinguished, Subactions, Substates, Side Conditions, Methods, Time Orderings, and Do-Whiles. For the most part it seems that any force type may combine with any form type in producing a rule. One example, how to use an umbrella, is examined in detail although facts about many human activities, from playing bridge to washing one's hair, are used as examples.