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
APR 29, 2015 • Podcast
Defending our Borders vs. Defending our Liberties: ACLU's Anthony D. Romero
From the NSA and the kill list, to the failure to close Guantanamo and prosecute those who committed torture, Obama's national security policies are not ...
APR 27, 2015 • Article
Is Downloading Really Stealing? The Ethics of Digital Piracy
You wouldn't steal a car, you wouldn't steal a handbag, you wouldn't steal a television. But what about downloading pirated films? Is intellectual property infringement ...
APR 27, 2015 • Podcast
Blueprint for Revolution: How to Use Rice Pudding, Lego Men, and Other Nonviolent Techniques to Galvanize Communities, Overthrow Dictators, or Simply Change the World
In the late 1990s, using humor, irony, and imagination, Popovic and his friends toppled Serbian dictator Milošević. They went on to found CANVAS, which ...
APR 13, 2015 • Podcast
Ethical Systems Design: Bringing Behavioral Science Into Corporate Life
This is the first in a series of podcasts in collaboration with EthicalSystems.org to explore behavioral science in the workplace. In this installment, we're ...
APR 7, 2015 • Article
Rethinking the Prevention Mandate of Peace NGOs: An EastWest Route
How can peace NGOs be more effective, both at preventing conflict and maintaining peace? Greg Austin of the EastWest Institute looks at the record of ...
MAR 23, 2015 • Article
Russia's Orthodox Soft Power
Russia's values are often overlooked, or treated simplistically as the antithesis of Western values. We should understand that the close relationship between the Orthodox Church ...
MAR 16, 2015 • Article
Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Innovations: Shakespeare on the Shop Floor
A pioneering organization is using literature to enable other sorts of conversations at the workplace—the types of conversations that successful companies need to have.
MAR 5, 2015 • Podcast
Dual Legacy: The Effect of Business Thinking on the Social Sector
This month on "Impact," we're taking a close look at a huge issue--legacy. In this case, we're examining how it relates to contemporary philanthropy and ...
MAR 4, 2015 • Podcast
Tourism, Farmers, & Technology in Africa: Eddie Mandhry from NYU Africa House
"What's been amazing is that across Africa there is a movement where people are adopting technologies and leapfrogging some of the developmental stages that you'd ...
MAR 4, 2015 • Article
Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Innovations: Eating "Ugly," a New Healthy Trend
England and France are using creativity to push consumers to buy "ugly" fruits and vegetables.