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
NOV 19, 2012 • Podcast
Global Ethics Corner: Should Adultery be Illegal for Military Personnel?
Although he was allegedly retired from the military when the affair took place, the scandal surrounding David Petraeus highlights the different ethical standard that members ...
NOV 15, 2012 • Transcript
Summary of Second Annual Global Ethics Fellows Conference in New York
This international conference included three panels: Cultural and Universal Norms; Political Will and Responsibilities; and Managing Systemic Risk and Systemic Crisis.
NOV 6, 2012 • Article
The New Assassination Bureau: On the 'Robotic Turn' in Contemporary War
When the film "2001" first came out, the plot--in which a robot faces an ethical decision--seemed like pure science fiction. Today it's becoming reality. This essay ...
OCT 16, 2012 • Podcast
Public Affairs: America in the 21st Century: A View from Asia
The good, the bad, and the ugly: distinguished Singaporean Kishore Mahbubani politely but firmly tells Americans how Asians see them, and warns, "the world that ...
OCT 12, 2012 • Podcast
Senator Richard Lugar on Nuclear Weapons Reduction
Senator Lugar tells the dramatic story of his bipartisan work on the Cooperative Threat Reduction Program (also known as Nunn–Lugar), which provides funding and ...
OCT 10, 2012 • Podcast
Frank Vogl on Corruption
Corruption is not a victimless crime, as many believe. Transparency International's Frank Vogl discusses the global, grass-roots fight against this age-old problem.
OCT 3, 2012 • Podcast
Jon Quong on Self-Defense
What conditions make it permissible for one person to kill another? And what does it mean if the theories that we've used as the basis ...
OCT 1, 2012 • Podcast
Global Ethics Corner: Is Local Food More Ethical?
With real economic benefits and perceived environmental ones, local food has been branded as an ethical alternative to the mass-produced variety. But critics point out ...
OCT 1, 2012 • Article
Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Commentary: Boat Migrants to Australia Deserve Their Refugee Rights
Asylum seekers who come to Australia by boat have been accused of jumping the queue in the immigration process, but are they really gaining an ...
SEP 26, 2012 • Podcast
The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion
"Haidt is one of the smartest and most creative psychologists alive, and his newest book, "The Righteous Mind," is a tour de force--a brave, brilliant ...