{"type": "project", "title": "Lexon", "logoImg": "bafkreicrbynk75jdla6i2vnnma3q3cfnljpuxrzyzetc6ufua5umlki3l4", "website": "https://www.lexon.org", "bannerImg": "bafkreial477xh45dyacyyjnnn5ty2arvcpkrj33ebtlrz3krgisq6pspfa", "createdAt": 1732106722217, "credentials": {}, "description": "**Lexon is a plain-text programming language for law and smart contracts.**\n\nLexon is the first of a new generation of languages. Its grammar describes the intersection of natural human language and higher order logic in the way that Wittgenstein demanded. To a degree, it ends the quest for an unambiguous universal language for philosophy and pure thought as envisioned by Leibniz, Frege, Russel, or Carnap. The key to this is how Lexon maps natural language to compiler building tools, which is intuitively convincing, and in line with what the tools were designed for, but different from what computer sciences had gotten used to.\n\nLexon is the language that Robotic Laws will be articulated in, to embed unambiguous limitations into autonomous machines, written by lawmakers, the code being official law, created and approved in the democratic process. Lexon thus solves a long-standing quest of Computational Law. It works for blockchain smart contracts as well as off-line, and also off-machine. For its advantages in transparency and accessibility, it may become a mainstream programming language. Beyond its uses in connection with computers, it may over time replace today's legalese as a more useful language for law and contracting. The counter arguments of the legal profession are addressed in the available publications that discuss Lexon. The work of professors of law about Lexon may serve as invitation to imagine that progress is possible, also for a two thousand years old industry.\n\nLexon is the language of lawmakers and programmers alike, enabling the coming profession of the legal engineer.\n\nLexon is under development. There is no consistent distribution available yet for the current compiler, which is the fourth implementation, adding significant depth. Documents, demos and source codes currently reflect a mix of the grammar versions 0.2 and 0.3.\n\nIf you are new to the concept, please read on. If you have the time, consider turning to the book.\n\nThis is an example of Lexon code:\n\n    LEX Escrow.\n    \n    \"Payer\" is a person.\n    \"Payee\" is a person.\n    \"Arbiter\" is a person.\n    \"Payment\" is an amount.\n    \"Fee\" is an amount.\n    \n    The Payer pays a Payment into escrow,\n    appoints the Payee,\n    appoints the Arbiter,\n    and also fixes the Fee.\n    \n    CLAUSE: Pay Out.\n    The Arbiter may pay from escrow the Fee to the Arbiter,\n    and afterwards pay the remainder of the escrow to the Payee.\n    \n    CLAUSE: Pay Back.\n    The Arbiter may pay from escrow the Fee to the Arbiter,\n    and afterwards return the remainder of the escrow to the Payer.\n\nAnyone can read this text and understand what it means. It can be shown to a judge, it can be understood by business partners and customers as well as a company\u2019s management and legal department; and it can also \u2013 as is \u2013 be run as a program, for example on a blockchain, i.e. as smart contract.\n\nSoon, any type of program can be written this way. And any type of agreement can be automated and made impossible to be broken. This will uncouple business necessities from the judicative and executive powers, their astronomical costs and glacial speed. Digital Contracts cost pennies to set in motion and can securely make any sum of money change hands in minutes. This will be a game changer for a massive slice of commercial activity and enable a long tail of private trade. It will also change the standards for governance and government.\n\nBlockchain technology was made by hackers for hackers \u2013 but with Lexon, anyone can read programs now without any knowledge of programming. And thus, consumers, as well as businesspeople, judges, jury members, even lawmakers will be able to read any smart contract about which they might be tasked to decide about, investigate, legislate, to verify or enter. Through this, contracting may become part of the definition of literacy and a silver arrow in the quiver of democracy.\n\nAs lawyers confirm, the code above is a legally enforceable contract: it can be used to demonstrate to a judge what the meeting of the minds of the parties to the contract was. There are no style requirements for a contract. There can't be any, or else a typo or poor grasp of grammar could render contracts invalid. But smart contract code, e.g., written in Solidity or Sophia, would always lead to a battle of experts if brought to court. Because non-programmers cannot read them.\n\nNot all contracts need to be in writing. The \u2018contract\u2019 itself is always the abstract agreement of two parties, no matter how it was expressed. A signed paper merely proves it. Now, a readable, digitally signed program can prove and perform this will.\n\n[WWW.LEXON.ORG](www.lexon.org)", "logoImgData": {}, "bannerImgData": {}, "projectTwitter": "hdiedrich"}
Lexon
**Lexon is a plain-text programming language for law and smart contracts.**

Lexon is the first of a new generation of languages. Its grammar describes the intersection of natural human language and higher order logic in the way that Wittgenstein demanded. To a degree, it ends the quest for an unambiguous universal language for philosophy and pure thought as envisioned by Leibniz, Frege, Russel, or Carnap. The key to this is how Lexon maps natural language to compiler building tools, which is intuitively convincing, and in line with what the tools were designed for, but different from what computer sciences had gotten used to.

Lexon is the language that Robotic Laws will be articulated in, to embed unambiguous limitations into autonomous machines, written by lawmakers, the code being official law, created and approved in the democratic process. Lexon thus solves a long-standing quest of Computational Law. It works for blockchain smart contracts as well as off-line, and also off-machine. For its advantages in transparency and accessibility, it may become a mainstream programming language. Beyond its uses in connection with computers, it may over time replace today's legalese as a more useful language for law and contracting. The counter arguments of the legal profession are addressed in the available publications that discuss Lexon. The work of professors of law about Lexon may serve as invitation to imagine that progress is possible, also for a two thousand years old industry.

Lexon is the language of lawmakers and programmers alike, enabling the coming profession of the legal engineer.

Lexon is under development. There is no consistent distribution available yet for the current compiler, which is the fourth implementation, adding significant depth. Documents, demos and source codes currently reflect a mix of the grammar versions 0.2 and 0.3.

If you are new to the concept, please read on. If you have the time, consider turning to the book.

This is an example of Lexon code:

    LEX Escrow.
    
    "Payer" is a person.
    "Payee" is a person.
    "Arbiter" is a person.
    "Payment" is an amount.
    "Fee" is an amount.
    
    The Payer pays a Payment into escrow,
    appoints the Payee,
    appoints the Arbiter,
    and also fixes the Fee.
    
    CLAUSE: Pay Out.
    The Arbiter may pay from escrow the Fee to the Arbiter,
    and afterwards pay the remainder of the escrow to the Payee.
    
    CLAUSE: Pay Back.
    The Arbiter may pay from escrow the Fee to the Arbiter,
    and afterwards return the remainder of the escrow to the Payer.

Anyone can read this text and understand what it means. It can be shown to a judge, it can be understood by business partners and customers as well as a company’s management and legal department; and it can also – as is – be run as a program, for example on a blockchain, i.e. as smart contract.

Soon, any type of program can be written this way. And any type of agreement can be automated and made impossible to be broken. This will uncouple business necessities from the judicative and executive powers, their astronomical costs and glacial speed. Digital Contracts cost pennies to set in motion and can securely make any sum of money change hands in minutes. This will be a game changer for a massive slice of commercial activity and enable a long tail of private trade. It will also change the standards for governance and government.

Blockchain technology was made by hackers for hackers – but with Lexon, anyone can read programs now without any knowledge of programming. And thus, consumers, as well as businesspeople, judges, jury members, even lawmakers will be able to read any smart contract about which they might be tasked to decide about, investigate, legislate, to verify or enter. Through this, contracting may become part of the definition of literacy and a silver arrow in the quiver of democracy.

As lawyers confirm, the code above is a legally enforceable contract: it can be used to demonstrate to a judge what the meeting of the minds of the parties to the contract was. There are no style requirements for a contract. There can't be any, or else a typo or poor grasp of grammar could render contracts invalid. But smart contract code, e.g., written in Solidity or Sophia, would always lead to a battle of experts if brought to court. Because non-programmers cannot read them.

Not all contracts need to be in writing. The ‘contract’ itself is always the abstract agreement of two parties, no matter how it was expressed. A signed paper merely proves it. Now, a readable, digitally signed program can prove and perform this will.

[WWW.LEXON.ORG](www.lexon.org)
Lexon