從一再修訂再版的《基本哲學探討》，可知李教授對這本著作的重視。 本論文的撰寫首先以「歷史發展」、「內在涵義」、「當代意義」的學術進程三部曲，繼則用「向上之道」與「向下之道」的知性進路及存在進路的方式，最後用「知識論」的入門，經「形上學」的體，再落實到「倫理學」的用，三個面向來看李教授的這部大著，並以「知性形上學」一詞來總結李教授的思想體系。 「知性形上學」無論是一般形上學的「存有學」，或是特殊形上學的「辯神論」，都是以人的「知」性為中心，至於人性另外約二種心智功能：「情」和「意」是否也可以成為新士林哲學的思想進路？前者稱Meta-physica，後者則可稱為Metaethica。

　　　　　We know from many revisions and re-editions of Fundamental Philosophy that Professor Ly puts lots of attention on this book. In this paper, I explore the significance of Professor Ly's book in the following ways: firstly, the trilogy of the development of argument, i.e. “historical development”, “internal meaning”, and “contemporary significance”, is employed. Secondly, the “upward method” (intellectual approach), and the “downward method” (existential approach) are appealed to; thirdly, From “epistemology” through “metaphysics” to “ethics” Professor Ly's argument in the book will be brought out. In conclusion, I shall use th eterm “intellectual metaphysics” to describe Professor Ly's thought. “Intellectual Metaphysics”, either in terms of general metaphysics (ontology) or of special metaphysics (theodicy), takes man's intellectuality as the centre. As regards the other two functions of human nature: “sentiment” and “will”, whether they can be a new way of thought for scholasticism? The former is called meta-physica, and the latter could be called meta-ethica.