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
SEP 20, 2016 • Podcast
Is Successful Integration Possible? Best Practices from North America and Europe
How can societies help migrants integrate into the schools, work forces, and cultures of their new communities? In a partnership with the Government of Catalonia, ...
SEP 14, 2016 • Podcast
The UN's Peter Sutherland on the Migrant Crisis
In the run-up to the UN Summit for Refugees and Migrants, Joanne Myers talks with Peter Sutherland about the challenges of implementing the 1951 Refugee Convention, ...
SEP 13, 2016 • Podcast
U.S. Elections & Brexit: Can Liberalism Survive?
Why are liberal values eroding across the world? Will this continue? Realist Stephen Walt says maybe not, if the U.S. can set a good ...
SEP 8, 2016 • Article
Sze Ping Lo: Towards a New Environmental Imagination
Sze Ping Lo, CEO of WWF-China, is equal parts activist and intellectual. Now in his early 40s, in a recent conversation Lo looked back on ...
SEP 7, 2016 • Podcast
Living Together in Peace: Religious Diversity in Indonesia
"Indonesia is an interesting example of where increasing intensity of religious practices among Muslims and Christians is not the factor that creates conflict and violence. ...
AUG 30, 2016 • Article
Ethics on Film: Discussion of "Food, Inc."
This documentary takes a close look at the U.S. food industry and finds that cheap food is costly and sometimes deadly to the environment, ...
AUG 29, 2016 • Podcast
The Conscious Investor
In our last episode on conscious capitalism, we consider socially responsible investing and impact investing. We explore the shareholder's influence in promoting socially and environmentally ...
AUG 22, 2016 • Article
Ethics on Film: Discussion of "Selma"
This stirring film gives a behind-the-scenes look at the Selma-to-Montgomery march and illustrates how and why King's strategy worked. It also shows the devastating consequences ...
AUG 22, 2016 • Podcast
The Conscious Company
Corporate leaders are increasingly aware that businesses can provide a positive (or negative) impact on the environment and community. But how can conscious companies prioritize ...
AUG 16, 2016 • Podcast
Interview with Robert Sparrow on Autonomous Weapon Systems and Respect in Warfare
Professor Sparrow works on ethical issues raised by new technologies. Here he discusses Autonomous Weapon Systems (AWS), often referred to as "killer robots." Unlike drones, ...