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

The Life You Can Save: Acting Now to End World Poverty

MAR 23, 2009 Podcast

The Life You Can Save: Acting Now to End World Poverty

It wouldn't take much to rescue those living in extreme poverty, says philosopher Peter Singer. If the top 90 percent of Americans gave at least 1 percent ...

CREDIT: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ellievanhoutte/365378736/">Ellie Van Houtte</a> (<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en">CC</a>).

MAR 11, 2009 Article

Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Innovations: The Global Ethics & Integrity Benchmarks

Global Ethics & Integrity Benchmarks is a tool for helping multinational organizations assess and measure their progress in making a formal and transparent commitment to ethics ...

MAR 5, 2009 Podcast

Fiona Robinson on the Ethics of Care

Care is not only a moral issue, but also a feminist one, says Robinson, noting that two-thirds of care around the world is done by ...

CREDIT: <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/worldbank/2760559520/">Masaru Goto / World Bank</a> (<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/deed.en">CC</a>).

MAR 4, 2009 Article

Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Commentary: Shallow Cuts

British pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline was lauded in recent headlines for the announcement that it would voluntarily act to improve access to medicines in developing countries. ...

FEB 27, 2009 Podcast

The Dictator's Shadow: Life Under Augusto Pinochet

In his first-hand account of the brutal Pinochet years and their aftermath, H.E. Mr. Heraldo Muñoz asks, "The agonizing question is: Was Pinochet ...

FEB 27, 2009 Podcast

Global Ethics Corner: Immigrants and Jobs

A Colombian immigrant was recently denied her investor's visa, forcing her to shut down her U.S. company and fire her six employees. Does immigration ...

FEB 20, 2009 Podcast

Global Ethics Corner: The Great Firewall of China

Should foreign companies fudge a commitment to free speech to gain early market access? Is some information better than none, or is censorship a black ...

Obama's exclusive <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAnQASZS-70">Al Arabiya interview</a>.

FEB 18, 2009 Article

Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Commentary: The New Ethic of Public Diplomacy

With President Obama's choice for under secretary of public diplomacy still unknown, it's hard to gauge where strategic communications are headed. But in the era ...

FEB 13, 2009 Podcast

Global Ethics Corner: Has Water Become a Right?

Less than one percent of the earth's water is consumable, and many parts of the world may be heading toward water bankruptcy. Should private ownership ...

image of book cover - Wired for War: The Robotics Revolution and Conflict in the 21st Century

FEB 11, 2009 Podcast

Wired for War: The Robotics Revolution and Conflict in the 21st Century

Once the stuff of science fiction, robotics are already changing the way wars are being fought, says P.W. Singer. How will they affect the ...