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
MAR 13, 2026 • Video
Character and Leadership: A Conversation with Lt. General (ret.) Mark Hertling
FEB 20, 2026 • Podcast
Keeping it Real(ism), with Assoc. Professor Paul Poast
With realism having a political moment, Paul Poast discusses the intellectual roots of the theory and how it's being applied in U.S. foreign policy.
DEC 11, 2025 • Video
Re-examining our Capacity for Just Peace
Watch this discussion featuring distinguished experts reflecting on the state of war in 2025 and the obstacles to achieving just peace.
Related Initiatives
Carnegie Ethics Accelerator
The Carnegie Ethics Accelerator is a new kind of incubator designed to empower ethics in the face of swiftly evolving challenges in technology and public policies.
Ethics & International Affairs Journal
Ethics & International Affairs is the quarterly journal of Carnegie Council. It aims to close the gap between the theory and practice of ethics.
Carnegie Ethics Fellows
The Carnegie Ethics Fellows program (CEF) seeks to cultivate the next generation of ethical global leaders across business, policy, technology, NGOs, and academia.
Explore Our Applied Ethics Resources
AUG 20, 2019 • Podcast
Ethics & the U.S.-China Trade War, with Nikolas Gvosdev
What role should ethics play in the U.S.-China trade war? Senior Fellow Nikolas Gvosdev looks at these economic tensions in the context of ...
AUG 20, 2019 • Article
Ethical Considerations in a Trade War with China
Are there ethical considerations that need to be factored in as part of assessing the merits of a "trade war" with the People's Republic of ...
AUG 8, 2019 • Article
Prioritizing the Linkages Between Sustainable Development Goals to Eradicate Child Marriage
"Child marriage is both a cause and consequence of the other societal ills outlined in the UN's Sustainable Development Goals," writes human rights attorney Megan ...
AUG 7, 2019 • Podcast
AI & Human Rights: The Practical & Philosophical Dimensions, with Mathias Risse
Mathias Risse, director of Harvard Kennedy School's Carr Center for Human Rights Policy, discusses the many connections between artificial intelligence and human rights.
AUG 5, 2019 • Video
Ethics in Business: In Their Own Words, with IFAC's Kevin Dancey
Kevin Dancey, CEO at the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), speaks about the role of ethics in accounting. He discusses his organization's diversity, how accounting ...
JUL 10, 2019 • Video
Ethics in Business: In Their Own Words, with Pendal's Emilio Gonzalez
Emilio Gonzalez, group CEO at Pendal in Australia, speaks about the role of ethics in global investment management. He discusses his organization's charitable work, its ...
JUN 26, 2019 • Podcast
Eyes in the Sky: The Secret Rise of Gorgon Stare and How It Will Watch Us All, with Arthur Holland Michel
Arthur Holland Michel, founder of the Center for the Study of the Drone, traces the development of the Pentagon's Gorgon Stare, one of the most ...
JUN 13, 2019 • Podcast
Speech Police: The Global Struggle to Govern the Internet, with David Kaye
The original idea of the Internet was for it to be a "free speech nirvana," but in 2019, the reality is quite different. Authoritarians spread disinformation ...
JUN 12, 2019 • Article
The Anti-Narrative
Among the electorate, especially since the 2016 election, there is a counter-narrative at play regarding the role of the U.S. in international affairs. This "anti-narrative" ...
MAY 22, 2019 • Podcast
A Thousand Small Sanities: The Moral Adventure of Liberalism, with Adam Gopnik
In his eloquent defense of liberalism, Adam Gopnik goes back to its origins and argues that rather than emphasizing the role of the individual, the ...