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 ...

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DEC 17, 2001 Transcript

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 ...

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 ...

Star of David and Genesis. CREDIT: <a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-815042/stock-photo-star-of-david-genesis-st-page-old-testament-hebrew-inside-the-star-god-macro-shallow-dof.html?src=zq6scaAipNtHpkPyxW1o8A-3-0">Shutterstock</a>

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 ...

Far-right activists at an Identitarian Movement of Austria anti-immigration rally in Vienna. CREDIT: <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Demonstration_against_Morten_Kj%C3%A6rum_in_Vienna.jpg">Ataraxis 1492</a>

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 ...