Harsh critiques against Gakumon no Susume at the time were focused on the sixth volume "Kokuho no totoki wo ronzu" (Consideration of the importance of national laws), and the seventh volume "Kokumin no shokubun wo ronzu" (Consideration of the jobs of people).
『学問のすすめ』への批判は、特に第6編「国法の貴きを論ず」と第7編「国民の職分を論ず」に集中していた。