根據余英時與林聰舜對於明清之際思想轉變的詮釋，考據學的出現原因可歸結為道問學的需要以及經世理想的落實兩項原因。考據學代表智識主義的興起，與考據學同樣強調知識、知性的章學誠，對於考據的批判工作，深化了考據學對於知識的看法，為清代智識主義的發展提供具有意義的思考與主張。章學誠自許為浙東學術，他建構的知識理論具有宋學的身影，其兼談朱陸、最終宗陸的宋學式知識理論將朱陸原來對於道德的關注，轉向於知識、知性。從儒學發展的角度來說，章學誠宋學式的知識理論，在內容上，與古代的主智精神相呼應。

According to the interpretations of Yu Ying-Shi and Lin Cong-Shun’s transitions from Ming to Qing, the two reasons for the origin of textology were to meet the Daowenxue’s demands and to implement the Jingshi theory. Textology represents the rising of the intellectualistic epistemology, Zhang Xue-cheng—and textology—emphasized the importance of knowledge and intellectual, his critiques of textology intensified its opinions of knowledge, provided a meaningful view for intellectualism in Qing. Zhang Xue-cheng regarded himself as a Zhetong scholar, his epistemology theory was a little similar to Song school, included Zhu and Liu, and finally it turned the attention from the morality in epistemology theory of Zhu and Liu onto knowledge and intellectual. From the Confucianism’s point of view, Zhang’s Song Dynastic knowledge theory was consistent with the ancient intellectualistic epistemology.