郎尼根以形上學蘊含「潛態」、「疑態」、「顯態」三個型態：「潛態」一辭提示著人有徹底追問萬事萬物最後根源的傾向；「疑態」意謂著人在企圖道破萬物根基中引申眾多互不諧協的理論；「顯態」則寓意著人成功地把「徹底追問根基」的傾向演繹成統合百學的學理。郎氏並且替「顯態形上學」定義為「比率存有者的整全誘導性結構」。

Lonergan differentiates metaphysics into three modalities ---- the latent, the problematic, and the explicit metaphysics. Synthetically, means that man’s metaphysical tendency to inquire about the ultimate ground of existence may finally attain its end, despite of the appearance of various conflicting theories. Lonergan defines explicit metaphysics as “the integral heuristic structure of proportionate being”.