This work investigates the fundamental shift in meta-ethical inquiry, specifically questioning how linguistic analysis and logical positivism redefined the nature of moral judgments. George C. Kerner, an academic philosopher, examines the transition from traditional normative ethics to the analytical focus on the meaning and function of moral language. By evaluating the works of key 20th-century thinkers, he constructs a framework that critiques the limitations of naturalism and intuitionism in ethical discourse. The text serves as a rigorous examination of how ethical theory evolved to prioritize the logical structure of moral arguments over substantive moral content.

Scholars and students of philosophy frequently cite this text as a rigorous, albeit dense, examination of mid-20th-century meta-ethical debates. It is widely regarded as a foundational resource for those seeking to understand the transition toward analytical methods in moral philosophy.