Applied Ethics

Framing ethical perspectives

Applied ethics refers to the practical applications of the moral principles that govern behavior. Carnegie Council focuses on this field, mostly through the realm of international affairs, by identifying and addressing the most critical ethical issues of today and tomorrow. Our initiatives, content, and experts analyze the way that governments, institutions, and individuals interact and make choices on global issues, such as climate change, emerging technology, and governance.

Featured Applied Ethics Resources

Practical conversations, decision analysis, and more

JUL 5, 2023 Article

A Framework for the International Governance of AI

Carnegie Council, in collaboration with IEEE, proposes a five-part AI governance framework to enable the constructive use of AI.

APR 12, 2022 Podcast

Surveillance Tech's Infinite Loop of Harms, with Chris Gilliard

In this discussion with Senior Fellow Arthur Holland Michel, Chris Gilliard explains why the arc of surveillance technology and novel AI bends toward failures that ...

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CREDIT: <a href="https://pxhere.com/en/photo/948810">pxhere (CC)</a>

FEB 24, 2020 Podcast

The Future of Artificial Intelligence, with Stuart J. Russell

UC Berkley's Professor Stuart J. Russell discusses the near- and far-future of artificial intelligence, including self-driving cars, killer robots, governance, and why he's worried that ...

FEB 13, 2020 Podcast

Who Controls the Global Thermostat? with C2G's Janos Pasztor

With record-breaking winter warmth in Europe, catastrophic fires in Australia, and deadly flooding in Indonesia, we are deep into a climate crisis. In this wide-ranging ...

FEB 11, 2020 Podcast

Killer Robots, Ethics, & Governance, with Peter Asaro

Peter Asaro, co-founder of the International Committee for Robot Arms Control, has a simple solution for stopping the future proliferation of killer robots, or lethal ...

FEB 4, 2020 Podcast

Do Morals Matter? Presidents & Foreign Policy from FDR to Trump, with Joseph Nye

How much do morals matter for U.S. presidents when it comes to international affairs? What are the ethics of "America First" or 2003 invasion of ...

World map with code. CREDIT: <a href=https://pixabay.com/illustrations/matrix-code-data-networking-1735640/>Pixabay (CC)</a>.

JAN 31, 2020 Article

Global Internet, Global Regulations

This essay written by Zahra Niazi is the third prize winner of the undergraduate category in the 2019 student essay contest. If cyberspace is an international ...

Terms and Conditions. CREDIT: <a href=https://www.behance.net/gallery/52947849/Stahlscom-terms-and-conditions-user-flow>Dave Goodman (CC)</a>.

JAN 31, 2020 Article

Sharing is Caring: Governing the Internet

This essay written by Sasa Jovanovic is the second prize winner of the undergraduate category in the 2019 student essay contest. What are the benefits of ...

Internet security. CREDIT: <a href=https://pixabay.com/photos/cyber-security-online-computer-2296269/>Pixabay (CC)</a>.

JAN 31, 2020 Article

IF Internet — THEN Free

This essay written by Evgeny Nedoborskiy is the first prize winner of the undergraduate category in the 2019 student essay contest. If we want to preserve ...

Malware notification. CREDIT: <a href=https://www.flickr.com/photos/140988606@N08/28710271786/>Christoph Scholz (CC)</a>.

JAN 31, 2020 Article

Internet Regulations Are the Superbugs of Speech

This essay written by Jennifer Baek is the third prize winner of the high school category in the 2019 student essay contest. What can we learn ...

Likes. CREDIT: <a href=https://pixabay.com/illustrations/facebook-icon-like-thumb-1084449/>Pixabay (CC)</a>.

JAN 31, 2020 Article

Internet Regulation: The Responsibility of the People

This essay written by Justin Oh is the second prize winner of the high school category in the 2019 student essay contest. What have data and ...

Airline passenger uses biometric scanning technology at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, GA. CREDIT: <a href= https://flickr.com/photos/deltanewshub/44275739610/in/album-72157704052266884/>John Paul Van Wert/Rank Studios 2018 (CC)</a>.

JAN 31, 2020 Article

Big Data, Surveillance, and the Tradeoffs of Internet Regulation

This essay written by Seungki Kim is the first prize winner of the high school category in the 2019 student essay contest. Should internet users be ...