Devoted centrally to an exposition of a kind of logical empiricim, which includes re-instatement of the analytic/synthetic dichotomy, some kind of moderation of metaphysics (?) but avoids the principle of verification and phenomenal reductionism.

When Aune began his philosophical career empiricism was received wisdom. It has since been repudiated, with the rejection of the analytic/synthetic distinction, and the emergence of a new kind of metaphysics.

Aune regards this as a backward step, and it is the purpose of this book to put forward and defend his own empiricist position.

Rudolf Carnap's philosophy is widely known primarily in its earliest manifestations. His mature philosophy is not well known but answers many of the criticisms which have been levelled at Logical Positivism, including those of Quine against the concept of analyticity.

The other principle factor in the eclipse of logical empiricism was the rise of "epistemological rationalism". In this context Aune mentions Kripke and Chisholm. The book responds generically to certain positions more or less close to that of Chisholm.