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 ...

Explore Our Applied Ethics Resources

February 6, 2015: Refugees moving between Debaltseve & Uglegorsk are escorted by pro-Russian rebels. Image via <a href="http://shutr.bz/1zAcSMy">Shutterstock</a>

FEB 23, 2015 Article

Ukraine: The New Cuban Missile Crisis?

"There can be no military solution to the war in Ukraine, only a political one," says Carnegie Council Global Ethics Fellow Rajan Menon, co-author of "...

FEB 18, 2015 Podcast

Ebola and Other Viral Outbreaks: Providing Health Care to the Global Poor in Times of Crisis

Why were initial responses to the Ebola outbreak so disastrously inadequate? How can dysfunctional health systems--at all levels--be improved, so that this doesn't happen again? ...

Joel Rosenthal headshot. CREDIT: Anadolu Agency

FEB 6, 2015 Article

Letter to 2114, a Century from Now

"At the beginning of our hundredth year, I wrote a letter to Andrew Carnegie, reporting on the progress of our Council and the prospects for ...

Eunice Yoona Lee

FEB 4, 2015 Article

"Why Korean Unification Is Not a Selfish Wish" by Eunice Yoona Lee

"Considering the nature of today's major global issues, regional conflicts like that in Korea must be solved foremost in order for humanity's progress toward world ...

Kavya Deshpande

FEB 4, 2015 Article

"Hopes for the Next Century: Religious Tolerance" by Kavya Deshpande

"It is vital that humanity seizes the 21st century to establish liberalism in the field of faith. There is still a long and arduous path ...

Ademola Adekunbi Alexander

FEB 4, 2015 Article

"What's Needed Is the Emergence of a New Mind-Set" by Ademola Adekunbi

"We must each work to remove the labels that we have imbibed over the years. Black does not equal gangster; Muslim does not equal terrorist; ...

Joshua Asaro

FEB 4, 2015 Article

"'Acta Non Verba' (Deeds Not Words)" by Joshua M. Asaro

"If we are to see growth in our society in the next hundred years, we have got to see an end to the days where ...

JAN 15, 2015 Podcast

Top Risks and Ethical Decisions 2015

"The world in 2015 looks a lot more dangerous, a lot more vulnerable," says global political risk specialist Ian Bremmer in his annual forecast. He notes ...

CREDIT: Gusta Johnson

JAN 7, 2015 Podcast

Unaccountable: Janine Wedel on how Elite Power Brokers have Corrupted the U.S. System

Anthropologist Janine Wedel exposes America's "new corruption"--the unprecedented ways that many politicians, retired generals, academics, bankers, and physicians exploit their prestige and insider knowledge.

DEC 22, 2014 Podcast

Money and American Politics: A Conversation with Lawrence Lessig

On a crusade against the corrupting influence of money in politics, Lawrence Lessig founded a "super PAC" which raised $10 million to support candidates committed to ...