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://flickr.com/photos/wili/2202129234/">Ville Miettinen</a> (<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en">CC</a>).

OCT 22, 2008 Article

Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Briefings: Lovers with Borders

Young international couples find the strict Danish immigration policies rotten, but a new ruling from the European Union could ease cross-border marriages.

cover image, The Difference Makers, by Sandra Waddock

OCT 2, 2008 Article

Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Commentary: The Difference Makers

Sandra Waddock's book "The Difference Makers" tells the stories of nearly two dozen innovators who pioneered the corporate responsibility movement over the past quarter century.

CREDIT: <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/arkntina/241070625/">RK & Tina</a> (<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/deed.en">CC</a>).

OCT 2, 2008 Article

Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Briefings: Laws Gone Wild in Ecuador

Ecuador is the first country to constitutionally enact ecosystem rights, expanding the mandate of environmental protection beyond personal injury and corporate license to pollute.

CREDIT: Andres Marin (<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/deed.en">CC</a>).

SEP 9, 2008 Article

Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Commentary: Oil Revenue Sharing for Iraq

Developing a fair system for sharing Iraqi oil revenues will ensure that no one can aspire to be the next Saddam Hussein.

Burmese monks protest the slow response to Cyclone Nargis. CREDIT: <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/northcountryboy/2505122369">Sean Ng</a> (<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/deed.en">CC</a>).

AUG 11, 2008 Article

Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Briefings: Humanitarian Aid Politicized

Humanitarian aid is often viewed as a political commodity, no matter how well intentioned the donors may be. As swelling urban centers make disasters deadlier, ...

CREDIT: <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/hleung/2108818972/">HKmPUA</a> (<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/deed.en">CC</a>).

AUG 11, 2008 Article

Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Innovations: The Greening of Islamic Politics

For centuries, Muslims considered Indonesia to be Islam's most distant outpost. Yet this diffuse country with multiple identities is leading the way in the greening ...

JUL 31, 2008 Podcast

Cyberethics: The Emerging Codes of Online Conduct

A panel of old and new media experts explore the changing communications landscape as new media grows in different directions and becomes more and more ...

Hotel Rwanda movie poster.

JUL 14, 2008 Article

Ethics on Film: Discussion of "Hotel Rwanda"

Based on the true story of a Rwandan hotel manager who saved the lives of over 1,200 refugees during the 1994 genocide, this film points blame at ...

JUL 8, 2008 Podcast

Torture, Rights, and Values: Why the Prohibition of Torture is Absolute

Rodin's premise is that if we have a commitment against torture, then it leads to an absolute prohibition on torture. Luban worries that our commitment ...

Security camera, friend or foe? Photo by <br><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/thomashawk/32557536/">Thomas Hawk</a> (<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/deed.en">CC</a>).

JUN 25, 2008 Article

Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Briefings: U Made an Illegal U-Turn

The South Korean metropolis of New Songdo is slated to be the world's largest "ubiquitous city," with tracking devices everywhere. The entrenchment of social surveillance ...