The term means to understand how we should conduct ourselves through our contact with things. "Studying things to acquire knowledge" comes from "The Book of Rites." Together with "making one's purpose sincere," "correcting one's thoughts," "self-cultivation," "running one's family well," "governing the state properly," and "bringing peace to all under heaven," they are collectively known as the "eight essential principles." Knowledge is acquired through the study of things. Since the two are closely related, they are sometimes together called "study and acquire." Throughout history scholars have had varied understandings of the meaning of the term. Some emphasize a thorough inquiry of principles in contact with things. Others stress personal practice in order to master all kinds of moral conduct and skills. Still others consider their intentions as things, thus reforming their innermost thoughts as studying things.

博学、审问、慎思、明辨，四者皆可“致知”，而博学则是最基础的方面。

致知在格物，物格而后知至。人心之灵，莫不有知，天下之物，莫不有理，并指出“凡天下之物，莫不因其已知之理而益穷之，以求至乎其极。至于用力之久，而一旦豁然贯通，则众物之表里精粗无不到，吾心之全体大用无不明矣。

实践科学精神必然要求我们勇于探索、改革创新、重视开放协同，引领人类不断走向新的认知和实践。求真、务实、质疑、包容、创新等应是其基本的属性。

艺术、科学与思想三者当然是全人类最大的事。科学和艺术在山脚下分手，在山顶上相逢。我们应用艺术的眼光去看待科学，用生命的眼光去看待艺术。

修身是格物、致知、诚意、正心的落脚点，又是齐家、治国、平天下的出发点。

唯其如此，做人做事才会有强大的人格魅力和道德感召力。

“人生之道”“自然之道”“致知之道”，涉及宇宙观、伦理观、方法论等内容。使心归之于正以践行日用伦常之道。