「理學」作為儒學發展之一種形態，其基本起因，在於面對魏晉以來「玄學」與「大乘佛教」所帶來之哲學衝擊。理學論述中有關「性」義之討論，於此發展需求之導引下，滿須足二項基本需求，即是：「善性」義之圓滿，與「智性」義之圓滿；且此二重之義，皆應於先秦儒學有所依據。《中庸》之說之獲重視，在於前者；而《易傳》之說之獲重視，則在於後者。至於同主「性善論」，何以最終分裂為「程朱」、「陸王」二說之對峙，則係由「義理之傾向」逐漸擴張所導致。本文之基本論述，即針對此項關繫理學「哲學建構」之進展，予以一屬於現代觀點之分析。

As a form of Confucian development, “Neo-Confucianism” basically appeared in the reception of the philosophical impact that metaphysical learning and Mahayana Buddhism had brought since the Wei and Jin dynasties. Several theory systems were achieved in the Song Dynasty in reaction to the new situation and demands. Among related debates, the ones between Zhu Xi and Lu Jiu-Yuan have received the most attention. This article re-examines the tangled issues lying under the basic structures of these theories when regarding them both as philosophies and as an academic discipline in Confucian tradition.