This work investigates the logical structure of historical explanation and whether historical accounts rely on universal laws similar to those found in the natural sciences. William H. Dray, a prominent philosopher of history, examines the methodology of historians to determine if their explanations are deductive-nomological or if they require a distinct approach. He argues against the positivist view that history must conform to the covering-law model, proposing instead that historical understanding often involves rational explanation of human action.

Experts recognize this as a foundational text in the philosophy of history that challenged the dominance of the scientific method in historical research. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose and its significance in the debate over historical objectivity.