張載是在「天地之性」和「氣質之性」的前提下，從而探討「天理」與「人欲」之關係。他認為「天理」為天下之公理，「人欲」就是過度的欲望。二程不反對人的正當欲求，其「理欲觀」關涉公與私的問題。朱熹認為人欲中的「公共之欲」與天理緊密相關，「私意之欲」與天理相對立。胡宏、張栻的「理欲觀」與程朱有異，然亦有關聯和一致性。陸九淵反對「天理」「人欲」之分，然於「天理」「人欲」又並提。宋儒各家的本體論不同，因此他們對《樂記》「天理」「人欲」之詮釋亦有異。不過宋儒最終都是從人文教化、修身養心的角度來談「天理」與「人欲」的關係，透顯出的是良苦用心和悲愍情懷。

The ontology of Confucian scholars in the Song Dynasty is different, so they had different explanations of the principles in the book Yueji. However, the scholars in the Song Dynasty all talked about the relationship between “heavenly principle” and “human desire” from the angle of human education and cultivation. Their views showed their good intentions and love feelings.