Full Idea
Descriptive metaphysics (e.g. Aristotle and Kant) is content to describe the actual structure of our thought about the world; revisionary metaphysics (e.g. Descartes, Leibniz, Berkeley) is concerned to produce a better structure.
Gist of Idea
Descriptive metaphysics aims at actual structure, revisionary metaphysics at a better structure
Source
Peter F. Strawson (Individuals:Essay in Descript Metaphysics [1959], Intro)
Book Reference
Strawson,Peter F.: 'Individuals: Essay in Descriptive Metaphysics' [Methuen University 1974], p.9
A Reaction
This distinction by Strawson was incredibly helpful in reinstating metaphysics as a feasible activity. I don't want to abandon the revisionary version. We can hammer the current metaphysics into a more efficient shape, or even create new concepts.
Related Idea
Idea 17275 Realist metaphysics concerns what is real; naive metaphysics concerns natures of things [Fine,K]