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
NOV 12, 2018 • Podcast
Enemy of the People: Trump's War on the Press, with Marvin Kalb
Trump has a love-hate relationship with the press, which he calls "the enemy of the people" when it crosses him, knowing nothing of the origins ...
NOV 5, 2018 • Article
The Ethics of Personal Data Collection: A Spectrum of Experiences from Kenya, India, and The Gambia
Many advocates now depend on mobile apps and crowdsourced data to address violations of human rights, such as physical assaults on women in India. In ...
OCT 29, 2018 • Podcast
The Alternatives to War: From Sanctions to Nonviolence, with James Pattison
In this interview with the Council's John Krzyzaniak, James Pattison (University of Manchester, UK), discusses his book, "The Alternatives to War." Taking what he calls ...
OCT 26, 2018 • Podcast
Reckless: Henry Kissinger and the Tragedy of Vietnam, with Robert K. Brigham
Henry Kissinger is smart, charming, and a great writer, says historian Robert Brigham. But when it came to Vietnam, his arrogance and deceit made a ...
OCT 19, 2018 • Podcast
Fight for Liberty, with Max Boot, Philip Bobbitt, Garry Kasparov, & Bret Stephens
We live in a time when liberal democracy is on the defensive, not only in the U.S. but around the world. Yet these speakers, ...
OCT 17, 2018 • Article
Unlocking the Potential of Young Working Women in the Middle East and North Africa
Through the story of Fatima AlRiami, a doctor in Yemen, Mariel Davis of Education for Employment not only illustrates some of the challenges that young ...
OCT 16, 2018 • Video
Ethics in Business: In Their Own Words, with CFA Institute's Paul Smith
As part of a film series on ethics in business, Paul Smith, president and CEO of CFA Institute, discusses ethical issues in financial management. What ...
OCT 16, 2018 • Video
Ethics in Business: In Their Own Words, with ACCA's Helen Brand
Helen Brand, chief executive of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), explains the role of ethics in accounting. She details the Association's role in ...
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 ...