1980年以後，我們面臨全球性的，而且影響深遠的環境問題。全人類永續生存議題需要怎樣的哲學思索與觀照？筆者的論辯是生態哲學思考在發揮人類智慧認識、了解、思考，能使全球自然生態包括人類永績的環境哲學與環境倫理。人類需要發揮怎樣的智慧呢？本文論述來自西方希臘傳統的理性思考並非最佳選擇，而是以同樣遞迴性知識思考方向建構的生態智慧，作為能影響我們永續未來的精神支柱。在生態環境日益惡化的今日，需要的是培植生態智慧或生態哲學，而非僅僅發展個人智慧。個人智慧與生態智慧的不同思考進路影響到我們對環境、自然、生態、以及未來永續的思考。本文探討這兩條哲學思考路線的進路，並以G. Bateson的遞迴知識論為主軸，論述為了永續未來，我們需要的生態智慧。筆者的結論指出，生態智慧能包容傳統、文化、情感、關係等方面的思考，維繫著人類永續生存的可能。

After 1980, the degradation of our environment is globalized, and situation of the global weather is changing that affect every part of the world. Many environmental problems will cause a lot of concern from all over the world. I would think that it is time to develop a sustainable environmental philosophy based on ecological intelligence. In order to clarify this argument, I would base my argument on G. Bateson's recursive epistemology. On the one hand, western thoughts are based on rational thinking, mechanical metaphor, and individualism. All of these can be recursively loop back to very early philosophical thought and reinforce through many generations. On the other hand, applying the same recursive principle, we can find that many other cultures which with no influences from western thought and with ecological sustainable thinking background. For instance, Chinese culture as one of them, even though we are facing tough situation of economic globalization. However, for the sake of our sustainable future, we need to learn and cultivate our ecological intelligence.