方東美為中國現代著名哲學家，亦被公認為現代新儒家重要代表人物。其人以哲學思想之造詣而見重於世，因其造境博大宏深，學貫中西，被時人推尊為「一代大哲」。方氏治學，融貫東西，涵攝眾家，復以中國文化為本位。他自述，「我在家學淵源上是儒家，在精神性向上是道家，在宗教情感上是佛家，而在哲學訓練上是西家」。方氏的學術歷程富於曲折性。他一生潛心研究哲學思潮，冀能了悟其源流正變。他的不同凡響之處，不僅在於他走過了一條異乎尋常的治學道路，更在於他為中國文化發展指出了一條具有獨創性的致思路線。

Thome Fang is a famous philosopher in contemporary China. He is also taken as a typical representative of Modern Neo-Confucian. His philosophical thought is so deep and broad that communicates East and West, therefore, he is taken seriously as “a great philosopher of the era.” As Fang has thorough knowledge of Eastern and Western philosophy, his philosophy has accommodated various philosophical thoughts, and he has eventually returned to his own position of the native Culture. He estates that “I am a Confucian by family tradition; a Taoist by temperament; and a Buddhist by religious inspiration; moreover, I am a Westerner by training.” As for Fang’s research, it is rather complicated. He has intensively studied various philosophical thinking trends in order to grasp their origin and development. So to speak, his unique position is not only that he has led an extraordinary research route, but also that he has pointed out a creative thinking route for the development of Chinese culture.