J. L. Austin was a leader of the "ordinary language" school of philosophy, which dominated Anglo-American philosophy for about twenty-five years after World War II. This movement, also known as the Oxford School, continues to wield some influence, albeit much diminished, even today. Its followers argued that it is important to attend to how language works, since language is the carrier of thought. Thus, if everyday language makes a distinction between "commanding" and "asking," one can assume that there is a reason for the distinction; the philosopher's job is to identify the basis of the distinction by engaging in language analysis. This activity involves answering a series of questions, such as: Are "commanding" and "asking" similar to one another because, when used in sentences, they represent attempts to direct someone's behavior? Does a command presuppose that the one issuing it is a social superior? Can feelings be commanded...