Coding with character: Virtue ethics for data scientists

In a world increasingly shaped by algorithms and data, the ethical dilemmas of AI development are no longer abstract; they are immediate and unavoidable. Frameworks like the EU AI Act place increasing demands on tech professionals to operationalize legal and ethical principles into actionable practices. This article emphasizes the need for data scientists, positioned at the intersection of technological innovation and societal impact, to develop techno-moral competences that enable them to navigate the ethical dimensions of their work responsibly. Drawing on virtue ethics, Iris Murdoch’s concept of ‘unselfing,’ and insights from post-phenomenology, it explores how data scientists can cultivate the ability to perceive the world in a just and context-sensitive manner, particularly by recognizing how their tools mediate reality and shape their moral responsibilities. The article formulates several strategies to align their practices with societal values and play an active role in shaping the ethical governance of AI systems.