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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JUL 16, 2009 Podcast

The Practical Idealism Project: Stories from the Field

How can you help change the world, and get paid for doing it? Alissa Wilson shares what she learned from interviewing scores of practical idealists, ...

Joel Rosenthal

JUL 14, 2009 Transcript

"The Current" Interviews Joel Rosenthal

Carnegie Council president Joel Rosenthal shares his thoughts on the mission and work of the Carnegie Council, the new administration, the future of realism, and ...

Joel Rosenthal

JUL 14, 2009 Podcast

"The Current" Interviews Joel Rosenthal

Carnegie Council president Joel Rosenthal shares his thoughts on the mission and work of the Carnegie Council, the new administration, the future of realism, and ...

JUL 10, 2009 Podcast

Global Ethics Corner: Military Intervention and Democracy?

Is it ever ethical to violate a democratic constitution? If the rationale for military intervention is to save democracy, does that make it legitimate?

JUL 10, 2009 Podcast

Interview with Hans Decker

"Money-making is the base for good business," says Columbia University's Hans Decker, "but we all intuitively know that there's more to it." Julia Kennedy talks ...

CREDIT: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/soldiersmediacenter/777305759/in/photostream/" target=_blank">U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Tierney Nowland</a>

JUL 7, 2009 Article

A Humanitarian Assessment of the War in Iraq

The debates about withdrawing from Iraq have excluded what would seem to be a self-evident point of contention: how best to repair the damage that ...

JUL 3, 2009 Podcast

Global Ethics Corner: Why Is Health Care So Difficult?

Why can't the U.S. negotiate a domestic solution to health care? Individuals are certainly responsible for their health. A wealthy society can also be ...

JUL 2, 2009 Podcast

Interview with George Pohle

"When companies go above and beyond with regard to the corporate responsibility that customers expect, they frequently can charge higher prices, get better market share, ...

Credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnmueller/3663378200/">John Mueller</a> (<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/deed.en">CC</a>).

JUL 2, 2009 Article

Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Commentary: Institutional Trappings

The institutionalization of religion seems symptomatic of the human tendency to mistrust our own intuitions, which can result in an abdication of responsibility.

JUL 1, 2009 Podcast

Pillars of Ethics

Carnegie Council president Joel Rosenthal discusses three pillars of ethics--pluralism, rights and responsibilities, and fairness--with Council staff members Madeleine Lynn and William Vocke.