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
MAY 20, 2015 • Article
U.S.-China MOOC Cooperation: Toward Educational Advancement
Although MOOCs are booming in China, the country still faces structural and technical challenges. A U.S.-China partnership on MOOCs will offer educational benefits ...
MAY 20, 2015 • Article
Addressing Modern-Day Slavery in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)
Of the world's 36 million trafficking victims, nearly two-thirds are from Asian countries. In order for the United States and Asia to have a promising future ...
MAY 18, 2015 • Podcast
Ethical Negotiation: Not an Oxymoron
In this second podcast in our collaboration with EthicalSystems.org, we examine negotiation. Turning again to behavioral science for insight, we learn that transparency and ...
MAY 11, 2015 • Podcast
Headscarves and Hymens: Why the Middle East Needs a Sexual Revolution
The Middle East needs a double revolution--not just a political one, but a social/sexual one as well, says fiery, courageous feminist Mona Eltahawy. It's ...
MAY 6, 2015 • Article
Teaching About Intractable Conflicts: The Olive Tree Initiative
How can students learn to think more critically about conflicted regions and to engage people with different views in constructive dialogue? The Olive Tree Initiative ...
MAY 5, 2015 • Article
Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Innovations: Reversing Climate Change: A Vision of an Organic Planet
Mark Smallwood, executive director at Rodale Institute, claims that a global shift to regenerative organic agriculture can reverse climate change.
MAY 1, 2015 • Podcast
The Ethics Police?: The Struggle to Make Human Research Safe
When it comes to medical research using human beings, who decides what's right? How do the U.S. institutional review boards work? What does "informed ...
APR 29, 2015 • Podcast
Defending our Borders vs. Defending our Liberties: ACLU's Anthony D. Romero
From the NSA and the kill list, to the failure to close Guantanamo and prosecute those who committed torture, Obama's national security policies are not ...
APR 27, 2015 • Article
Is Downloading Really Stealing? The Ethics of Digital Piracy
You wouldn't steal a car, you wouldn't steal a handbag, you wouldn't steal a television. But what about downloading pirated films? Is intellectual property infringement ...
APR 27, 2015 • Podcast
Blueprint for Revolution: How to Use Rice Pudding, Lego Men, and Other Nonviolent Techniques to Galvanize Communities, Overthrow Dictators, or Simply Change the World
In the late 1990s, using humor, irony, and imagination, Popovic and his friends toppled Serbian dictator Milošević. They went on to found CANVAS, which ...