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
JUN 26, 2012 • Article
Dealing with "Enablers" in Mass Atrocities: A New Human Rights Concept Takes Shape
Because mass atrocities are organized crimes, crippling the means to organize and sustain them--money, communications networks, and other resources--can disrupt their execution, writes George Lopez.
JUN 25, 2012 • Article
Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Innovations: Asmita: Identity amid Crisis
Two young entrepreneurs launched a venture combining ethical finance and scientific crop management to boost yields and profitability for the suicide-prone farmers of India.
JUN 15, 2012 • Podcast
Global Ethics Corner: The Ethics of Cyber Warfare
An influential Russian engineer recently called for an international ban on cyber weapons, saying that they could have unforeseen consequences, but many American analysts disagree. ...
JUN 8, 2012 • Podcast
Global Ethics Corner: The Ethics of "Citizens United": Does Corporate Cash Threaten Democracy?
Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker recently won his recall election and many are saying this is due, in part, to the "Citizens United" decision, which gave ...
JUN 8, 2012 • Podcast
Antonio Franceschet on the International Criminal Court
What is the role of the International Criminal Court today? What are its strengths and limitations? In this informative interview, Professor Antonio Franceschet discusses the ...
JUN 7, 2012 • Podcast
Every Nation for Itself: Winners and Losers in a G-Zero World
What's a G-zero world? It's when no one takes a global leadership role, when no one is willing to, and no one is capable of ...
JUN 1, 2012 • Article
Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Commentary: Principle vs. Practicality: A Closer Look at the Ethics of Climate Change Adaptation Finance
Mixing the principles of causality, vulnerability, and ability to pay into the negotiations over climate change adaptation is unnecessarily complicated. There are moral and political ...
MAY 23, 2012 • Article
Coming Unstuck
What is the role of the nation-state in a globalizing world? The need is not for a relinquishment of national identity per se, but for ...
MAY 11, 2012 • Podcast
Global Ethics Corner: Vigilante Justice: Have Libyans' Demands for Retribution Gone Too Far?
Libya's civil war is over, but many victims of the Qaddafi regime are still violently meting out justice to their former oppressors. Will this just ...
MAY 8, 2012 • Podcast
Ethics Matter: Dov Seidman, a Moral Philosopher in a Suit
Leadership is going from being command-and-control to connect-and-collaborate; from inspecting for trust to giving it away; and from discussing success towards significance: "If we make ...