方以智的哲學精神可歸結為「怒化生生」：「怒化」取自《易餘》附錄，源於莊學精神；「生生」取自《周易》。兩者合稱，《易》《莊》互鏡。「怒化生生」之義有五：怒化奮迅、生生之幾、怒化烈火、怒化之曠、怒化中和。以「正」「餘」統領，方以智的哲學精神分三個層次：內在旨趣為「怒化」「生生」之「正」與「息養」「退藏」之「餘」相互發明；原典資源為《莊子》之奇兵與儒學《六經》之正路互用，以莊子為儒學托孤；現實世界為以佛學之「避路」實現儒學之「歸路」。方以智的哲學精神源於明清鼎革之際的遺民情節，以此化解理想與現實的矛盾，並與反清復明的政治抱負相印證。

Fang Yizhi’s philosophical spirit can be summed up as “rouse and ceaseless vitality”: “Rouse” is taken from the appendix of “Surplus of Change”, which is derived from the spirit of Zhuangzi; “Ceaseless vitality” is taken from “Book of Change”. The spirit is collectively referred to as “Book of Change” and “Zhuangzi”. The meaning of “rouse and ceaseless vitality” can be summarized as five points: rouse swiftly and violently, trigger of vitality, burning fire, transcendence, centrality and harmony. The philosophical spirit can be divided into three levels, led by “Normal” and “Surplus”: the inner level is represented by the mutual expound of “rouse and ceaseless vitality” and “recuperation and retreat”.The classic level is represented by the ingenious of Zhuangzi and the orthodox of “Six Classics” of Confucianism, Zhuangzi is the entrusted orphan to Confucianism. The real level of is to realize the “returning road” of Confucianism with the “detour” of Buddhism. Fang Yizhi’s philosophical spirit stems from the affection of the remnants of the Ming dynasties, in order to resolve the conflict between ideals and reality, and confirming his anti-Qing political aspiration.