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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OCT 20, 2015 Podcast

Global Ethics Day: Feeding the Planet

There are roughly 2 billion people who are under-nourished and another 2 billion who are overweight or obese. In other words, about half the world's population is ...

CREDIT: <a href="http://shutr.bz/1G7MUsS" target="_blank">Shuttersock</a>

OCT 15, 2015 Article

Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Commentary: Fighting Obesity Requires a Choice: Profit or Public Health?

Unless governments take steps to promote healthy diets and discourage consumption of ultra-processed products, chances to stop and reverse the obesity epidemic remain quite slim.

CREDIT: <a href="http://shutr.bz/1k4YIlO" target="_blank">Shuttersock</a>

OCT 14, 2015 Article

Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Commentary: Big Soda Politics: A Call to Advocacy

It is becoming evident that Big Soda copies the playbook used by Big Tobacco to distract people from the harm caused by cigarette smoking. Although ...

CREDIT: <a href="http://shutr.bz/1MwwyLv" target="_blank">Shuttersock</a>

OCT 13, 2015 Article

Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Commentary: How Much More Processed Food Can We Eat?

Food policies for the 21st century will be about the purpose of markets and the need to hold marketers to account for their activities.

OCT 7, 2015 Podcast

Karenna Gore on Faith Communities and the Environment

Karenna Gore, daughter of Al Gore and director of the Center for Earth Ethics, discusses how faith communities (including indigenous peoples) are rallying to combat ...

SEP 29, 2015 Podcast

Can Human-Centered Design "Fix" Humanitarian Aid?

Design thinking has emerged as a new tool in humanitarianism. Proponents of the trend believe it can solve the problem long plaguing the aid community: ...

Acropolis and the Greek Parliament CREDIT: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/visitgreecegr/5986670837/" target=_blank>GNTO / Yannis Skoulas</a> (<a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/">CC</a>)

SEP 22, 2015 Article

Democracy as Myth and Fact

"Do democracies have the capacity to adjust? Can they expand their ideas of national interest to tackle collective challenges? Can they function in ways that ...

Credit: <a href="www.ulula.com" target="_blank">Ulula</a>

SEP 21, 2015 Article

Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Innovations: Can Mobile Technology Help Make Sustainable Business a Reality?

How can we bridge the disconnect between the growing interest of business and finance in the sustainability agenda and more decisive action towards better social ...

Bomb damage in Serekaniye, Syria, 2013.CREDIT: <a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-132791996/stock-photo-serekaniye-syria-march-view-of-war-damage-from-serekaniye-syrian-war-plane-bombed-serekaniye.html">Shutterstock</a>

SEP 15, 2015 Article

No Peace in Syria without Justice

"Only when the culture of impunity in Syria is addressed will the prospect for a political solution become genuinely viable, and can we begin to ...

"We became brothers." Bassam Aramin (left) and Rami Elhanan. CREDIT: Peter Singer

SEP 11, 2015 Article

Talking Peace in Person

Middle East peace talks have stalled. The 2014 war in Gaza caused the deaths of more than 2,000 people. Yet a group of 600 Palestinians and Israelis who ...