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

Mobuto Sese Seko's corrupt rule of Zaire <br>left billions in unpaid loans.

JAN 22, 2008 Article

Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Briefings: The Debt of Dictators

The Debt of Dictators by filmmaker Erling Borgen is a good introduction to the central questions of Third World debt: Whose debt is it, and ...

CREDIT: <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/criminalintent/73757271/">Lars Plougmann</a> (<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en">CC</a>).

JAN 16, 2008 Article

Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Innovations: Forming a Donor Monitor NGO

Money stuffed in envelopes. Gifts of cars, computers, and overseas junkets. It sounds like the criticism typically leveled at corrupt MNCs, but it also occurs ...

DEC 7, 2007 Podcast

Branded! How the Certification Revolution is Transforming Global Corporations

Michael Conroy discusses how certification systems, market campaigns, and champions within corporations are driving a major shift in global corporate accountability on social and environmental ...

CREDIT: <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/29762392@N00/506562532/">Alberto</a> (<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/deed.en">Creative Commons</a>).

NOV 30, 2007 Article

Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Briefings: A Kite Runner Approach to Understanding Corruption

All sins are a variation of theft, according to the father character in Khaled Hosseini's novel The Kite Runner. Corruption is theft of public trust ...

NOV 29, 2007 Podcast

Why Cooperate? The Incentive to Supply Global Public Goods

Deflecting asteroids, eradicating polio, coordinating international time, mitigating climate change--Scott Barrett explains the different incentives and actors needed to supply these global public goods, where ...

OCT 29, 2007 Article

Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Commentary: Searching for the Ethical Blogger

Blogs have evolved into a powerful sociopolitical force capable of shaping opinion, breaking news, and giving a voice to the voiceless. But with great chatter ...

CREDIT: <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/integralfocus/83966554/">Jake Brewer</a> (<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/deed.en-us">CC</a>).

OCT 12, 2007 Article

Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Innovations: Merck's Dubai Ethics Center

Resolute ethical business standards can be a distinct bottom-line liability for companies operating in environments where corruption is more the rule than the exception. To ...

Pakistani piggybanks, or <em>gallas</em>. CREDIT: <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/umairmohsin/121150243/">Umair Mohsin</a> (<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/deed.en-us">CC</a>).

OCT 10, 2007 Article

Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Briefings: Moral Interest in Banking

Pakistan, whose constitution requires that all laws be brought in conformity with sharia, is transitioning to a completely interest-free economy. Islamic finance is booming in ...

Kim Jong-il

SEP 6, 2007 Article

Engaging "Evil:" Searching for an Ethical Approach Toward North Korea

The temptation to focus on regime change as the solution to all the problems posed by Pyongyang is strong. But attempts to overthrow the regime ...

CREDIT: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nihaoblog/75877575/" target=_blank>blogger-china</a> (<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/deed.en-us">CC</a>).

JUL 31, 2007 Article

Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Briefings: The Blogger's Democratic Revolution

Thanks to the human love of commentary and information, blogs have created more connections among people and helped propel citizen journalism and democratic change. As ...