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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SEP 1, 2011 Podcast

The U.S. Credit Rating Downgrade: What Does it Mean?

Is the U.S. no longer the center of the economic universe? Credit expert Ann Rutledge discusses the recent credit rating downgrade of the U....

CREDIT: Dennis Doyle, Carnegie Council

AUG 31, 2011 Article

The Ethics of the Nuclear Security Summit Process

This paper examines the ethical questions around two intertwined 21st century issues: nuclear terrorism and the Nuclear Security Summit (NSS) process. Does the process take ...

AUG 26, 2011 Podcast

Global Ethics Corner: Libya After Qaddafi: Redefining our Responsibilities

As Libya prepares for its future, do NATO member states have a moral responsibility to protect peace and stability? Or should Libya's future be of ...

AUG 19, 2011 Podcast

Global Ethics Corner: In America, Does Pluralist Democracy Still Work?

Has pluralism in America emphasized private interest over public good? Does the market for ideas need more supervision, or should the market rule?

JUL 29, 2011 Podcast

Global Ethics Corner: Norway: When Belief Justifies Murder

The power of belief is terrifying. Do you believe anything strongly enough to take a life without the sanction of authorities? Can any belief justify ...

JUL 26, 2011 Podcast

The (Ethical) Taste of Success

Ashok Vasudevan has what it takes to build commercially viable and socially responsible global companies. Tasty Bite, an all-natural, ready-to-eat food sold in the U....

JUL 22, 2011 Podcast

Global Ethics Corner: Privacy, Ethics, and "News of the World"

Outrage over "News of the World's" use of phone hacking raises the question: when is hacking acceptable? Phone surveillance is a common tool for national ...

JUL 5, 2011 Podcast

Steve Forbes on Civility in Corporate America

Economic uncertainty is a source of incivility, declares Forbes. He touches on education, politics, history, free markets, and the establishment of a new gold standard ...

JUN 24, 2011 Podcast

Global Ethics Corner: "To Kill a Mockingbird" and Justice

In "To Kill a Mockingbird" an innocent man is wrongfully sentenced. The author argues that all we can do in the face of injustice is ...

JUN 24, 2011 Podcast

Henry Kaufman on Civility in the Financial Sector

What is the underlying source of the current financial turmoil? It is not lack of technological knowledge about how to structure and to trade securities. ...