The Importance of Metaethics * +

Abstract

System Design consists of modeling and of metamodeling. The relationship between these two aspects of System Design is explained. We apply metamodeling to Value Systems and show the relationship which exists between ethics and metaethics. Whereas ethics takes place in the inquiring system at the object level, metaethics is generated in the inquiring system at the metalevel. This framework is used to model and metamodel Environmental Ethics and to discuss the Ethics and Metaethics of Conservation.