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
MAR 13, 2026 • Video
Character and Leadership: A Conversation with Lt. General (ret.) Mark Hertling
FEB 20, 2026 • Podcast
Keeping it Real(ism), with Assoc. Professor Paul Poast
With realism having a political moment, Paul Poast discusses the intellectual roots of the theory and how it's being applied in U.S. foreign policy.
DEC 11, 2025 • Video
Re-examining our Capacity for Just Peace
Watch this discussion featuring distinguished experts reflecting on the state of war in 2025 and the obstacles to achieving just peace.
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
JAN 15, 2016 • Podcast
Winter is Coming: Why Vladimir Putin and the Enemies of the Free World Must be Stopped
Garry Kasparov is an outspoken critic of Vladimir Putin's authoritarianism, but he is equally critical of the United States and its allies for their unwillingness ...
JAN 14, 2016 • Podcast
Humans Need Not Apply: A Guide to Wealth and Work in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
"Artificial intelligence" is a misnomer, says computer scientist Jerry Kaplan. Machines are not intelligent; their programmers are. What we're seeing is a huge acceleration of ...
JAN 12, 2016 • Article
The Death of a Pacifist?: On Akiyuki Nosaka's Death
The Japanese writer Akiyuki Nosaka died last month. He is best known, internationally, for his semi-autobiographical novel "A Grave of Fireflies," made famous by Studio ...
JAN 7, 2016 • Podcast
Top Risks and Ethical Decisions 2016
Eurasia Group's Ian Bremmer discusses the top political risks for 2016 and gives a stark warning for the year ahead. Touching on the Saudi-Iranian tensions, China's ...
JAN 4, 2016 • Article
Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Commentary: "World Hunger: Ten Myths" by Frances Moore Lappé and Joseph Collins
Chapter by chapter, Frances Moore Lappé and her co-authors demolish the myths that have long prevented us from addressing hunger, and examine the policies that ...
DEC 21, 2015 • Article
Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Innovations: Can the University Help Make Better Cities?
We need 21st-century institutions for 21st-century urbanization and cities. If we have the courage to reimagine and remake them, universities can be at the heart ...
DEC 21, 2015 • Podcast
Bearing Witness to War and Injustice: Ron Haviv, Photojournalist
From the Balkan Wars to both invasions of Iraq to the current refugee crisis, photojournalist Ron Haviv has been at the center of many of ...
DEC 15, 2015 • Podcast
Violence All Around
What is terrorism, and how is it different from other violence? How does technology affect rates of violence? How and when can nonviolence be effective? ...
DEC 14, 2015 • Article
Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Innovations: From Lab to Table
"New Harvest" wants to kick-start a bio-economy of animal products made without animals. Some have already called this revolution "the next .com."
DEC 4, 2015 • Article
Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Commentary: Does the Legally Binding Character of the Paris Climate Change Agreement Matter and, If So, Why?
How much does the legal form of the Paris outcome matter? Opinions on these questions differ widely.