本文嘗試以時間意識、終極關懷、歷史觀與正統論等縱向歷時性的研究取徑，來探討胡寅的史學關懷與其對生命意義的看法。要之，胡安國、胡寅父子的史觀與三國帝蜀正統論，朱熹的《資治通鑑綱目》多所取材，他們是理學褒貶史學的先驅者之一。在時間意識與終極關懷方面，永留青史而青史永留是胡寅的生命關懷之所在，他試圖以著書立論來延續自己的精神生命。換言之，史學的「永恆性魔力」使得個人得以留名千古，治亂鑑戒與忠奸褒貶始有實質上的意義，象徵人們對於永恆價值的追求。在歷史觀方面，胡寅的「崇古的治亂循環史觀」與「一元二分法思維模式」，以經論史、以史證經，寄託於天理及史學的永恆性，雖失之主觀，確影響日後理學家的歷史意識。在正統論方面，胡寅反對三國以魏為正統，主張帝蜀，關鍵在於南宋政權的歷史正當性解釋上面。

Hu Yin (胡寅) concluded that Shu-Han (蜀漢) was the legal dynasty in San-Guo (三國). In fact, this idea influenced Zhu Xi (朱熹). On the consicousness of time and ultimate concern, Hu Yin was in favor of jing-yi (經義), classic Confucianism, in other words, the eternal and ultimate cause. He also believed firmly the cyclical of historical concepts. Another note worthy thing about Hu Yin is that he hoped himself to leave behind a good reputation, and to be remembered forever by posterity. Finally, Hu Yin subjectively supported tian-ren-he-yi (天人合一) and dualistic judgment of monism.