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
MAY 10, 2022 • Podcast
Making Decisions When Values Conflict or Are Prioritized Differently, with Paul Root Wolpe
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 ...
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
OCT 2, 2018 • Podcast
All Options Are on the Table: Threats and Coercive Diplomacy in Foreign Affairs
Are there ever justifiable reasons for issuing threats to achieve foreign policy objectives? In particular, are President Trump's threats against Iran justified? Don't miss this ...
SEP 28, 2018 • Podcast
On the Future: Prospects for Humanity, with Martin Rees
Cosmologist and astrophysicist Martin Rees discusses the future of humanity on Earth and beyond, foreseeing a time when space pioneers may use gene splicing and ...
AUG 7, 2018 • Article
The Rise and Fall (and Rise) of Chemical Weapons
"Chemical weapons have been used in almost every decade since their advent just over a century ago. They are not a specter, like nuclear weapons. ...
JUL 25, 2018 • Podcast
Twitter's Moral Flaws, with Mark Hansen
Columbia Journalism School's Mark Hansen, along with his students and "New York Times" journalists, conducted deep, firsthand research into Twitter, buying followers and charting networks, ...
JUL 24, 2018 • Article
The Assault on Ethics
"A year and a half into the Trump presidency, its most consequential feature thus far is its assault on ethics," writes Carnegie Council President Joel ...
JUN 20, 2018 • Article
The Zero Tolerance Migration Policy: Two Moral Objections
"The ends do not always justify the means, especially when children are involved." It's important to lay out all the ways Trump's policy of separating ...
JUN 14, 2018 • Article
In Defense of the Trump-Kim Summit
"As a long-time Asia watcher, I feel it's important to defend the value of the Singapore summit. The meeting has served to establish rapport between ...
JUN 11, 2018 • Podcast
HATE: Why We Should Resist It with Free Speech, Not Censorship, with Nadine Strossen
Nadine Strossen gives a rousing, detailed, and convincing defense of free speech as it is laid out in the First Amendment. "American law really is ...
JUN 4, 2018 • Podcast
Golden Visas, Dreamers, & Ethics in Immigration, with Ayelet Shachar
There is a global surge in "golden visas" for the super-rich, who often have "no connection to the country other than a wire transfer, the ...
MAY 31, 2018 • Podcast
Why Ethics Matter in International Affairs
How can you ensure that ethics are a core component, not only of an international affairs education, but of graduates' performance once they go out ...