Global Trends and Knowledge Mapping in Applied Ethics Research During 2013 to 2022: A Bibliometric Analysis

This research delves into applied ethics, an ever-evolving discipline that grapples with ethical challenges across diverse human spheres. To gain insights and track emerging patterns, this study employs bibliometric analysis on scholarly applied ethics publications. The analysis uncovers 7207 documents authored by 18461 individuals, amassing 76597 citations. Notably, 234 collaborative works between the United States and Australia underscore global knowledge exchange. English dominates, yielding 7015 publications and 76349 citations. Noteworthy journals include the Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics with 499 publications and a Journal Impact Factor (JIF) of 2.37, while the Marine Ecology Progress series attains a peak JIF of 12.59. Articles lead in publication type (6253 instances, 69133 citations), with Hagendorff's "The Ethics of AI Ethics: An Evaluation of Guidelines" emerging as a frontrunner with 310 citations from the journal Minds and Machines (2020). "Ethics" emerges as a primary keyword, accompanied by a growing mention of "artificial intelligence," signaling the prominence of environmental ethics and the budding field of AI ethics. Recurring terms like conservation, behavior, climate change, ethics, and management underscore their significance. Collaborative endeavors between Australia and the USA yield 234 publications, demonstrating cross-continental scholarly synergy. These findings guide researchers, policymakers, and practitioners in recognizing crucial domains, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and addressing pressing ethical concerns across diverse realms.