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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NOV 12, 2013 Podcast

Citizenship Within and Across Nations

Philosopher Kwame Anthony Appiah explores the role of civic honor, and its negative counterpart, shame, in shaping the political behavior of individuals and of nations, ...

CREDIT: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/worldbank/6841923214/">World Bank</a> (<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/deed.en">CC</a>).

NOV 12, 2013 Article

Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Briefings: Beyond CSR: Doing Good Business

Recalibrating toward sustainable practices can be challenging and risky. Here are six steps for building a business with higher purpose.

NOV 6, 2013 Podcast

Moral Tribes: Emotion, Reason, and the Gap Between Us and Them

How do human beings make moral decisions? Sometimes we go with our emotions and "think fast" and sometimes we use reason and "think slow." Neuroscientist ...

OCT 28, 2013 Article

A Letter to Andrew Carnegie on the Eve of the Council's Centennial

From our vantage point 100 years on, Andrew Carnegie got some things right and others wrong; but the core issue remains the same. "Today's Carnegie Council ...

CREDIT: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/un_photo/9773429075/">United Nations Photo</a> (<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/deed.en">CC</a>)

OCT 28, 2013 Article

The UN's Unprecedented Gamble in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Laurie Mincieli: The Forward Intervention Brigade represents an unprecedented use of the Security Council's Chapter VII peacekeeping mandate, and risks undermining peacekeeping's core tenets of ...

CREDIT: Marvel Studios

OCT 21, 2013 Article

Ethics on Film: Discussion of "Iron Man 3"

So what can a blockbuster movie about a superhero tell us about current American attitudes towards U.S. foreign policy, PTSD, racial stereotypes, the War ...

CREDIT: <a href="http://tinyurl.com/lt9vr2d/">UN Women/Marielos Mora</a> (<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/deed.en">CC</a>) <br>Costa Rican President Chinchilla & former UN Women Director Bachelet

OCT 21, 2013 Article

Chile's Opportunity to Eradicate Violence Against Women—and Set an Example for the Region

If Michelle Bachelet regains the Chilean presidency in the 2013 election, she has the opportunity to create a lasting legacy for women. What's needed is a ...

CREDIT: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ubuntunewsru/6217160759/">Ruslan Rugoals</a> (<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/deed.en">CC</a>).

OCT 21, 2013 Article

Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Briefings: Lesser-known Species Fall Victim to the Illegal Wildlife Trade

Pangolins, slow lorises, freshwater turtles, and other lesser-known species all face extinction pressures if we fail to curb the illegal wildlife trade.

OCT 19, 2013 Podcast

Protecting Women Refusing to be Victims of Violence

"Our goal is to truly provide justice to incredibly courageous women and girls who have suffered things that make us uncomfortable. They have suffered things ...

CREDIT: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/razowsky/2630973447/">Flo Razowsky</a> (<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/deed.en">CC</a>)

OCT 10, 2013 Podcast

Anna Stilz on Occupancy Rights

Any attempts to tackle the problems of long-term refugees will have to address occupancy rights. Why do we have the right to live in a ...