The Importance of Metaethics

System Design consists of modeling and of metamodeling. The relationship between these two aspects of System De­ sign 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 sys­ tem at the object level, metaethics is generated in the inquir­ ing system at the metalevel. This framework is used to model and metamodel Environmental Ethics and to discuss the Ethics and Metaethics of Conservation.