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

Journalist Seymour Hersh at the Torture & Foreign Policy Seminar

SEP 17, 2013 Article

Update from the Carnegie Global Oregon Learning Community

The Carnegie Global Oregon Freshman Interest Group and learning community (CGO) is a pioneering effort that partners the University of Oregon with Carnegie Council to ...

Citadel of Aleppo, 2007. Damaged by shelling, 2012. CREDIT: <a href="http://tinyurl.com/kkuwfw3">Watchsmart</a>,  (<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en">CC</a>)

SEP 17, 2013 Article

The Fate of Cultural Property in Wartime: Why it Matters and What Should Be Done

Cultural property protection in conflict is often neglected as people argue that the lives of individuals in warzones are far more important than old buildings, ...

Fire in the Blood

SEP 7, 2013 Article

Ethics on Film: Discussion of "Fire in the Blood"

With the tagline "Medicine, Monopoly, Malice," this powerful documentary tells how Western drug companies fought to keep discounted AIDS medications from reaching HIV-positive citizens of ...

CREDIT: Minnesota Historical Society, <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Martin_Luther_King_Jr_St_Paul_Campus_U_MN.jpg">Wikimedia Commons</a>

SEP 6, 2013 Article

Living With Injustice: Lessons from 1963

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the writing of three seminal texts in 20th century philosophy. An examination of these texts--by King, Arendt, and ...

CREDIT: US Navy Naval History and Heritage Command, <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BattleOfVirginiaCapes.jpg">Wikimedia Commons</a>

SEP 6, 2013 Article

Finding Our National Moral Compass on Syria

The U.S. received aid from other nations during its own Revolutionary War, and so despite all, "as America debates the pros and cons of ...

CREDIT: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikebaird/2127311117/">Mike Baird</a> (<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en">CC</a>).

SEP 6, 2013 Article

Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Innovations: The Right Social Policies Can Promote Intergenerational Ethics

A new study by Bertelsmann Foundation analyzes fairness between the young and the old, and provides policy solutions for governments in aging societies.

CREDIT: <a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-120387823/stock-photo-the-syria-flag-painted-on-bomb-icon.html">Syrian flag painted on a bomb</a> via Shutterstock

SEP 5, 2013 Article

On Law, Policy, and (Not) Bombing Syria

The question of whether the U.S. should use its military against Assad is separate from the questions of legal interpretation. The legal question does ...

CREDIT: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meanestindian/4195782519/">Meena Kadri</a> (<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/deed.en">CC</a>).

AUG 20, 2013 Article

Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Commentary: POEM: Tomorrow's Child

This poem was written to convey the imperative of sustainability. As geographical lines blur due to trade and markets, so can ethics.

The ruins of Briarwood Elementary School in Moore, OK. CREDIT: <a href="http://www.defenseimagery.mil/imagery.html?&guid=ea561b585517b12260ec8e87f48e13759fe64220">SSgt Caroline Hayworth</a>

AUG 19, 2013 Article

Life, Money, and the Pursuit of Happiness

"The pursuit of wealth will continue to be the engine of American society. But let's not forget that the pursuit of happiness demands more. The ...

CREDIT: <a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-123301510/stock-photo-shanghai-skyline-in-sunrise-china.html">Shanghai Skyline at Sunrise</a>  via Shutterstock

AUG 14, 2013 Article

Some Thoughts on the Ethics of China's Rise

In this nuanced and knowledgeable piece, Wyne analyses China's changing values and challenges as the country takes a more prominent role on the world stage, ...