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

FEB 24, 2017 Article

Coexistence in the World of Nations

"Why don't we then just write off nationalism as an unacceptable element from the past (similar to racism and imperialism)? There are two main reasons. ...

Via <a href="https://pixabay.com/en/hands-world-map-global-earth-600497/">Pixabay</a>. Public domain.

FEB 24, 2017 Article

Nationalisms: Constructive and Destructive

The goal of peace in the 21st century is likely to be advanced far less by grand projects aimed at nationalism's demise and more at ...

FEB 22, 2017 Podcast

Launch of Carnegie Climate Geoengineering Governance Initiative

C2G2 serves a vital purpose: connecting and mobilizing actors from many sectors of society to look at the very real possibilities of engineering the ...

Image created by Gabriella Nicole Veda

FEB 22, 2017 Article

Nationalism: A Modern Asset

"We are currently living in the rapidly globalizing world of the 21st century. This means that the barriers of communication and cultural exchange are eliminated. ...

FEB 15, 2017 Podcast

Data for the People: How to Make our Post-Privacy Economy Work for You

"I want people to be empowered by the data they create and not to be stifled by the data they create," says Andreas Weigend, one ...

Alexander Görlach. CREDIT: Amanda Ghanooni

FEB 14, 2017 Podcast

Alexander Görlach on Threats to Liberal Democracy

In this wide-ranging and lively discussion, Alexander Görlach, founder of the debate magazine "The European," tackles the rise of populism and the far right ...

Stephanie Sy and Robert Quinn. CREDIT: Amanda Ghanooni

FEB 13, 2017 Podcast

A Conversation with Robert Quinn on Scholars at Risk

Scholars at Risk provides temporary teaching positions and advisory services to hundreds of threatened scholars around the world. Quinn describes how its caseload has doubled ...

FEB 13, 2017 Podcast

The Global Phenomenon of #GivingTuesday

Jessica Schneider, of the Belfer Center for Innovation and Social Impact at the 92nd Street Y in New York City, explains how and her team ...

FEB 6, 2017 Podcast

The Populist Explosion: How the Great Recession Transformed American and European Politics

How exactly should we define populism?  What led to its current resurgence in Europe and the United States, on both the right and the left?  ...

FEB 2, 2017 Podcast

Shalini Kantayya: The Intersection of Ethics, the Environment, & Economics

"I think we as a movement have not done a good job of making climate change a kitchen-table issue, of making this an economic issue ...