Compared with the previous Confucianism, Gu's thought not only reflected and criticized the old Confucianism, but also inherited some essence of traditional Confucianism.

The similarity between Gu and the previous generation of Confucianism lies in that, as an outstanding thinker in the late Ming and early Qing Dynasties, Gu did not fundamentally deny Confucianism, but inherited and absorbed beneficial nutrition from Confucianism. Many of his core ideas, such as "taking the world as one's duty, having no monarch and people", are still in the same strain as the previous generation of Confucianism. Gu, Huang Zongxi and Wang Fuzhi were called "the three great Confucians" in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, and they did not jump out of the Confucian thought. Gu believes that the original intention of Confucianism is "filial piety", "cleaning up and coping with the duty", "its use lies in the source, and its use lies in decrees, education and punishment" and "what is spread in the world today is learned by outsiders, not Confucius' truth", which reflects that Gu has been looking for a way out from the traditional Confucian heritage.

However, there are many differences between Gu's thought and previous Confucianism. Gu did not completely stick to the barriers of traditional old Confucianism, but through reflection and criticism, he sublated traditional old Confucianism and constructed an ideological system with the characteristics of the times. One is to deny the unity of Confucian classics. Since Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty exclusively respected Confucianism, China's scholarship has basically been based on Confucian classics. As the originator of Qing studies, Gu has been widely read and learned all his life, and has made pioneering research in Confucian classics, history, writing, phonology, epigraphy, archaeology, astronomy, calendar, geography and military affairs. The second is to advocate "public governance". Starting from the thought of "saving the country by Ming Dow", Gu also had bold doubts about the imperial system. In the article "Jun" in Rizhilu, he proved that "Jun" was not the proper name of feudal emperors, and then he opposed "one rule" and advocated "multiple rules". The third is Gu's study and practical application. It opposes empty talk, pays attention to extensive evidence, and puts forward that "a gentleman learns from Ming Dow and helps the world". It's just poetry. What are the advantages of carving insects? "Fourth, Gu emphasized that personality must be established before learning." Courtesy, righteousness, honesty and shame are four dimensions ". His slogan "Every man is responsible for the rise and fall of the world" has far-reaching significance and far-reaching influence. The fifth is to criticize Neo-Confucianism. Gu inherited the anti-Neo-Confucianism trend of Ming scholars, not only cleaned up Neo-Confucianism, but also showed different learning purposes from Neo-Confucianism in many aspects, such as the unity of heaven and man, regulating qi, Taoism, knowing and doing, heaven and human desire.