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
FEB 21, 2013 • Article
"Traffic Lights" by By Jae Woo Jang
At the age of 14, Sarina was tricked into becoming a sex slave--and there are hundreds of thousands of teenage girls just like her. What can ...
FEB 21, 2013 • Article
"Consumerism" by Anjana Aravind
"I live in a small town in India. People have a notion that consumerism is a "first-world" problem but it is not. Wherever you come ...
FEB 21, 2013 • Article
"Population" by Juinn-Ren "Andrew" Wang
Our governments don't like to talk about population control because it is unpleasant; it is unethical to tell others how many or how few children ...
FEB 21, 2013 • Article
"The Responsibility of the Individual" by Xinle Su
"We urgently need a paradigm shift in how we view ourselves vis-à-vis global issues. There are innumerable issues and ethical challenges in each issue ...
FEB 21, 2013 • Article
"Human Trafficking" by Sandhya Bhat and Catherine Pushpam Joseph
"There is no doubt we live in a world that specializes in creating broken people every day. We've reached a point where eradicating human trafficking ...
FEB 21, 2013 • Article
"Economics Has Replaced Ethics" by Laura J. Rediehs
"The biggest ethical challenge facing us today is that we have let economics replace ethics as a guide to life, and in doing so, we ...
FEB 21, 2013 • Article
"Terrorism" by Madueke Michael-Francis Nezie
Terrorism is like a virus. It cannot be said to be bound within certain political states or geographic boundaries. To end terror, extremism and its ...
FEB 21, 2013 • Article
"Exploitive Inequality" by John Dever
"Exploitive inequality is one of the fundamental ethical challenges that faces us today, and it vastly complicates any response to threats to peace, justice, and ...
FEB 21, 2013 • Article
"Saving the World Is Indifferent, Acting for it Isn't" by Ilari Aula
"The greatest ethical challenge facing the planet is to discover how we ordinary people reach and maintain the motivation to change the world. It is ...
FEB 14, 2013 • Article
Saddam's Pistol, and Yours
"In the current debate over gun regulation a simple point is being missed. Every citizen has the right to a gun. But shouldn't every man, ...