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 25, 2009 • Article
Prize-Winning Student Essay: Globalization and Opportunity
Katie Carns, winner of the Carnegie Council/Semester at Sea Student Competition, reflects on what she learned about other countries--and the U.S.--on her ...
NOV 25, 2009 • Article
Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Briefings: Contested Governance in a Global-Corporate World
Can nation-states, global corporations, and civil society alliances stabilize in a new form of effective global governance?
NOV 25, 2009 • Podcast
Web 2.0 and Corporate Accountability
In July 2009, the Harvard Kennedy School's Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative launched a six-month project on Web 2.0 and corporate accountability. This expert panel discusses the project's ...
NOV 24, 2009 • Podcast
Justice: What's the Right Thing to Do?
Political philosopher Michael Sandel turns the Council into a classroom. Using questions such as military service, he engages the audience in a lively debate on ...
NOV 20, 2009 • Podcast
Can You Ever Earn Too Much?
Within society there seems to be a general public disdain for excess and a private commitment to excess. Should there be formal or informal standards ...
NOV 17, 2009 • Podcast
How Rights Move: Losing and Acquiring Rights in the International Domain
David Rodin explores the logic which governs how rights may be lost, acquired and transferred--how they 'move'--and examines in particular the implications this has for ...
NOV 13, 2009 • Article
Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Commentary: A Close Relationship Requires Compromise
The most important accomplishment of President Obama's trip to Japan would be to reassure Prime Minister Hatoyama that the tensions around Marine Corps Air Station ...
NOV 13, 2009 • Podcast
Your Income, Your Liberty, and Your Equality?
Inequality in America has been accelerating rapidly since the 1980s. But capping income levels could put liberty and competitiveness at risk. This short video on ...
NOV 6, 2009 • Podcast
Paying Others to Fight Our Battles
Private contractors bring important skills to tasks outside the capability or mission of military personnel, but they are not accountable to the government or American ...
NOV 3, 2009 • Podcast
Public Ethics Radio: Christopher Heath Wellman on Immigration and Citizenship
From education and health care, to access to credit and the rule of law, a host of factors that influence quality of life depend simply ...