Ethics, Morals, and Laws

101 for the DBA

A primer for behavior targeted for the DBA / Data Professional

Pat Phelan
Evolving content warning:
• This content is still evolving as of 2018-01-13
• Points and sections may be added or modified
• New content is constantly being developed.
What this presentation covers:
• Definitions
• Limitations
• Practical use and problems

• Note: I am not an expert on Ethics, although I do have extensive

experience with ethics problems. I’m willing to offer my opinions and
insights, but those may not be appropriate for your problems!
Wikipedia as a source
• Many human languages, not just English.
• Wikipedia is often the first reference site to document new
words/concepts/ideas by months or years
• Collaboration
• Wikipedia is NOT suitable for academic use!!!
• No formal peer-review
• Not acceptable as a citation
• These constraints don’t matter for this presentation
What inspired this presentation
• DBA questions
• Personal interest
• Help start new DBAs
Ethics Wikipedia definition
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethics
• Wikipedia definition: Ethics or moral philosophy is a branch of 
philosophy that involves systematizing, defending, and recommending
concepts of right and wrong conduct
Morals Wikipedia definition
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morality
• Wikipedia definition: Morality (from the Latin moralis "manner,
character, proper behavior") is the differentiation of intentions,
decisions, and actions between those that are distinguished as proper
and those that are improper.
Laws Wikipedia definition
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law
• Wikipedia definition: Law is a system of rules that are created and 
enforced through social or governmental institutions to regulate 
behavior.[2] Law as a system helps regulate and ensure that a
community show respect, and equality amongst themselves.
Computer Ethics Wikipedia definition
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_ethics
• Wikipedia definition: Computer ethics is a part of 
practical philosophy which concern with how computing professionals
should make decisions regarding professional and social conduct.
Timeline
• Law 2100-2050 BCE Code of Ur-Nammu
• Law 1754 BCE Code of Hammurabi
• Ethics 1200 BCE Greeks (dates/authors uncertain)
• Ethics 770-206 BCESix conditions not to treat (Chinese)
• Ethics 500-400 BCEHippocratic Oath
HK? *
• Morals are important to clients and society
• Ethics are important to workers
• Laws are important to business/community/law enforcement
• * with kudos and credit to Liggy!
Changes to Ethics, Morals, and Laws
• Ethics change based on what seems right/wrong
• Example: new information
• Morals change based on what seems proper
• Example: changing culture
• Laws change based on the law makers
• Example: after an election or revolution
Ethics discussion
• Ethical choices aren’t binary.
• Degree of benefit/harm determines ethical value.
• Some problems only have solutions that include harm (firefighters, hospitals)
• How to weigh different kinds of harm (physical, social, economic)
• Must consider all possibilities
• Must consider “edge cases”
Morals discussion
• Morals change based on society and the concept of what is proper.
• Morals always change over time.
• The US today versus last year have different ideas of what is proper
• The US today versus 1776 have different ideas of what is proper
• Morals change based on society
• The United States and China have different ideas of what is proper
• Different cultures within a country have different ideas of what is proper
Laws discussion
• Laws have no formal relationship to ethics
• Laws have no formal relationship to morals
• Laws can be arbitrary
• Laws often have “unintended consequences”
• Laws usually deal well with history
• Laws don’t always accommodate changes in society
Ethics for the individual
• Hierarchy
• Self
• Family
• Higher power
Ethics for the direct employee
• Hierarchy
• Individual ethics, then add:
• Employer
Ethics for the consultant
• Hierarchy
• Individual ethics, then add:
• Customer
• Employer
Volunteer ethics
• Hierarchy
• Individual ethics, then add:
• Organization
• Society
Who owns code – Legally
• Legally determined by explicit or implicit contract
• Explicit contract may or may not override implicit contract
• Explicit contract is a document between an individual and another entity
(either a person or a legally recognized group like a company).
• Implicit contract may be defined by jurisdiction, and in some cases either part
or all of it may take precedence over explicit contracts.
• Trade Secrets
Who owns code – Morally
• Morally determined by society
• Society may be a company
• Society may be a nation
• Society may be the world (some open source projects use this model).
Who owns code – Ethically
• What has been agreed to by parties involved?
• What is in the best interest of the parties involved?
• What is in the best interest of the world?
Who owns data
• Person the data describes
• Client
• Who owns what in a hosted environment?
• Company/Organization
• HIPPA/GDPR/etc.
• Other
• Example: EU Right to be forgotten
Take aways: Depends on…
• Ethics depend on what is right or wrong
• Morals depend on what is proper
• Laws depend on whims of law makers
Take aways: Talk to mentors or trusted peers

• Ethical issues require discussion/defense

• A trusted person can add new perspective
• Few problems are hard once you’ve solved them!
 Thanks!
I really appreciate your time and attention.
Feedback request
• Please fill out evaluations
• Please offer constructive criticism
• Please offer suggestions for additional topics
Ethics, Morals, and Laws 101 – Pat Phelan
• Pat is a Database Architect and • Email:
Mentor at Involta, LLC. • Pat@YetAnotherSQL.com

• SQL Saturday Nashville 2018 • Twitter:

• Murfreesboro, TN 2017-01-13 • @YetAnotherSQL