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 ...

Explore Our Applied Ethics Resources

Credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/pagedooley/3191664147/">Kevin Dooley</a> (<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en">CC</a>).

APR 15, 2009 Article

Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Commentary: Homo sociens and the New Ecological Growth Economy

What does it mean to build an economy on sound ecological principles? It means that all forms of business and other human activity will be ...

APR 10, 2009 Podcast

Global Ethics Corner: Competition, Culture, and Cheating

Competition magnifies the importance of choices people make, as penalties for failure and rewards for cheating increase. What would you do if faced with a ...

"Small Boy" Nuclear Test, July 14, 1962, Nevada Test Site. <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Small_Boy_nuclear_test_1962.jpg" target=_blank">U.S. Government Photo</a>.

APR 8, 2009 Article

Fallout, Denials, and Trials: Recognizing the Health Legacy of Nuclear Test Veterans

David Willcox writes on a U.K. court case brought by participants in the U.K.'s nuclear testing program which raises a moral dilemma ...

APR 3, 2009 Podcast

Global Ethics Corner: Ethics and Experts

How should we reward experts and how much? When the experts fail, should populist outrage be directed at those individuals or the system?

MAR 27, 2009 Podcast

Global Ethics Corner: Obama and Ethics

Can public discussion of issues acknowledge gray areas despite being polarized by the media and single issue groups?

The Life You Can Save: Acting Now to End World Poverty

MAR 23, 2009 Podcast

The Life You Can Save: Acting Now to End World Poverty

It wouldn't take much to rescue those living in extreme poverty, says philosopher Peter Singer. If the top 90 percent of Americans gave at least 1 percent ...

CREDIT: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ellievanhoutte/365378736/">Ellie Van Houtte</a> (<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en">CC</a>).

MAR 11, 2009 Article

Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Innovations: The Global Ethics & Integrity Benchmarks

Global Ethics & Integrity Benchmarks is a tool for helping multinational organizations assess and measure their progress in making a formal and transparent commitment to ethics ...

MAR 5, 2009 Podcast

Fiona Robinson on the Ethics of Care

Care is not only a moral issue, but also a feminist one, says Robinson, noting that two-thirds of care around the world is done by ...

CREDIT: <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/worldbank/2760559520/">Masaru Goto / World Bank</a> (<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/deed.en">CC</a>).

MAR 4, 2009 Article

Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Commentary: Shallow Cuts

British pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline was lauded in recent headlines for the announcement that it would voluntarily act to improve access to medicines in developing countries. ...

FEB 27, 2009 Podcast

The Dictator's Shadow: Life Under Augusto Pinochet

In his first-hand account of the brutal Pinochet years and their aftermath, H.E. Mr. Heraldo Muñoz asks, "The agonizing question is: Was Pinochet ...