This book investigates the semantic content and logical structure of normative judgments, specifically addressing how we determine if a choice is wise or a feeling is apt. Alan Gibbard, a distinguished philosopher, utilizes a framework rooted in expressivism to analyze the nature of moral and rational discourse. He argues that normative statements do not merely describe the world but instead express a state of mind, providing a systematic account of how these judgments function within human reasoning and social coordination.

Experts in metaethics recognize this work as a foundational text for understanding contemporary expressivist theory. Readers frequently note the high level of academic density and the rigorous analytical approach required to engage with Gibbard's complex arguments.