This work investigates whether Immanuel Kant's doctrine of things in themselves represents a form of epistemic humility rather than traditional idealism. Rae Langton, a prominent philosopher, utilizes a rigorous analysis of Kant's metaphysical distinctions to argue that his philosophy supports scientific realism. By re-evaluating the distinction between intrinsic and relational properties, Langton provides a framework that defends Kant against historical charges of incoherence and demonstrates the continued relevance of his primary and secondary quality distinctions.

Experts recognize this text as a significant contribution to Kantian scholarship that successfully bridges the gap between historical interpretation and contemporary metaphysical debate. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which is intended for those with a background in formal philosophy.