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
DEC 17, 2001 • Podcast
The "War" on Terrorism: What Rules Apply? (New York Forum #1)
The attacks of September 11 have been described, variously, as "crimes," "acts of war," or "genocide." Does characterizing the attacks in these different ways change the ...
OCT 10, 2001 • Article
The Search for a Usable Past
At the October 25-26 Carnegie Council conference "The Search for a Usable Past," a group of scholars discusses the question "What ought we elect to ...
SEP 19, 2001 • Article
Feature Articles from Inprint Newsletter (2001–2004): The Ethics of the New War
As we go to press, there is debate over the appropriate response to the attacks of September 11. President Bush uses the language of war. But ...
MAY 15, 2001 • Transcript
Universalism and Jewish Values
Though they lacked any state or territory of their own, Jews nevertheless created a distinctive political philosophy, one that deserves systematic scholarly attention.
MAY 15, 2001 • Article
Morgenthau Lectures (1981–2006): Universalism and Jewish Values
Though they lacked any state or territory of their own, Jews nevertheless created a distinctive political philosophy, one that deserves systematic scholarly attention.
APR 19, 2001 • Article
Willing to Kill But Not to Die?
Is American policy drifting toward an approach that could be labeled "willing to kill but not to die"? If we consider ourselves a moral nation, ...
FEB 15, 2001 • Article
Moral Dilemmas of U.S. Policy Toward Iraq
When it comes to issues such as imposing sanctions, pursuing assassination, overthrowing regimes, and waging war, the moral questions may be the most important ones.
JAN 6, 2001 • Article
Human Rights Dialogue (1994–2005): Series 2, No. 5 (Winter 2001): Human Rights in Times of Conflict: Humanitarian Intervention: Articles: The Choices for the International Human Rights Movement
Roth remarks that, for the pacifist, "the debate over humanitarian intervention is easy. War is the ultimate evil, to be opposed in any circumstance. For ...
JAN 1, 2001 • Article
Sovereign Virtues: Aziz Al-Azmeh and Michael Ignatieff on the Failures of Globalization
This article was posted in "Carnegie Reporter" on May 25. The following excerpt is posted with permission from Carnegie Corporation of New York. Michael Ignatieff was ...
OCT 6, 2000 • Article
Human Rights Dialogue (1994–2005): Series 2, No. 4 (Fall 2000): Who Can Protect Workers' Rights? The Workplace Codes of Conduct Debates: Articles: A Template for Ground-Up Workable Codes
As Northern labor, religious, and nongovernmental organizations press apparel retailers and manufacturers for stronger codes of conduct and transparent verification systems, in Latin America ...