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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AUG 9, 2010 Podcast

Ethics for a 21st Century Army: Creating a Code of Professional Military Ethics

Major Chris Case (West Point) and David Rodin (Oxford University): What are the basic principles that should guide professional soldiers in the 21st century?

CREDIT: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/berlinlife/403947163/">ring2</a> (<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/deed.en">CC</a>).

JUL 19, 2010 Article

Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Briefings: Brain Scan Lie Detection

Brain scan data can be powerfully persuasive, but has the science behind it progressed far enough to warrant its use in the courtroom?

JUL 16, 2010 Podcast

Global Ethics Corner: Who Dies in Afghanistan: Soldiers, Civilians, or the Mission?

How do you choose missions to fight a war effectively, while minimizing civilian deaths and meeting the obligation to your soldiers?

JUL 9, 2010 Podcast

Ethics in Business: Interview with Felipe Botero, VP, MetLife

Felipe Botero is a VP at MetLife Insurance. Day-to-day, he develops insurance for retiring baby-boomers. But he is also taking on the enormous responsibility of ...

Illustration: Adam Niklewicz

JUL 7, 2010 Article

The Case for a Union: From the Fertile Crescent to the Silk Road

Authors Abtahi and Shoamanesh have a bold proposition: a multi-state, political-economic-security union that stretches from the Fertile Crescent to the Silk Road, connecting the Indian ...

JUL 2, 2010 Podcast

Activism and Policy: Prospects for Change in Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan is one of the most closed societies in the world. Its media and education system are propaganda tools and all opposition is crushed. Meanwhile, ...

CREDIT: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/37degrees/3482554236/">Romel Jacinto</a> (<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/deed.en">CC</a>).

JUN 30, 2010 Article

Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Briefings: Migrant Detention Leads to Harm

Detention is costly in economic and human terms. If EU states wish to sustain their migration management policies, they will have to rely more on ...

CREDIT: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/artemuestra/2940823679/">artemuestra</a> (<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en">CC</a>).

JUN 28, 2010 Article

Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Commentary: Can Ethics Save Investors?

It is time for ethical conduct to graduate from being a cost of doing business associated with compliance, to a more prominent role as a ...

JUN 28, 2010 Podcast

Global Ethics Corner: Chinese Currency and Ethics

When China loosens the peg of its currency to the dollar, the U.S. will benefit--but it may hurt labor in China. While the looser ...

CREDIT: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wfryer/1160040021/" target="_blank">Wesley Fryer</a> (<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en" target="_blank">CC</a>).

JUN 24, 2010 Podcast

Future Leaders and Global Business Values: The IBM Worldwide Student Survey

How do the views of today's students and CEOs differ with regard to business on a shared planet? IBM engages with the Council's Carnegie New ...