“理即性”是薛瑄对程朱“性即理”理学范式的重大修改与完善,如果说程朱的“性即理”是道德主体通过后天修养所达到的性与理的经验统一,那么,薛瑄的“理即性”是天理在根源上与性的先天统一,并具有必然性与普遍性。黄宗羲在《明儒学案》中指出薛瑄的学术宗旨是“以复性为宗”,又指出其“恪守宋人矩镬”。相对于程朱,“以复性为宗”就是薛瑄的一个突破,而非“恪守宋人矩镬”。
"Truth as Nature" is Xue Xuan's Neo-Confucianism paradigm to Cheng Zhu "Nature as Truth", if Cheng Zhu's "Truth as Nature" is the moral subject acquired through accomplishment and the experience of unity, then Xue Xuan's " Truth as Nature" is innate unity in the source and nature, and has the inevitability and universality. Huang Zongxi proposed, in the " History of the Scholars and Thinkers of the Ming Dynasty", Xue Xuan's "Taking Restoration of Nature as the Purpose" and "Abiding by the Moment of the Song". With respect to Cheng Zhu, Xue Xuan's "Taking Restoration of Nature as the Purpose" is a breakthrough rather than " Abiding by the Moment of the Song".