Right Livelihood

This step on the eightfold path may not seem of obvious significance, when you focus only on the specific occupational categories that are to be avoided (1. dealing in weapons, 2. dealing in living beings (including raising animals for slaughter as well as slave trade and prostitution), 3. working in meat production and butchery, and 4. selling intoxicants and poisons, such as alcohol and drugs. Adapted from The Bigview).

This step is still of vital importance if we look at it in another context. The precepts of Right Livelihood are to support the practitioner engaging in Right Speech and Right Action. Similarly, we can develop a precept for Right Livelihood with respect to data analysis. We should seek to work for and with employers that support the practice of our profession in the right way. We should strive to promote environments where carrying out the principles embodied in Right Speech and Right Action become normative, and are not seen as threatening or disruptive. We should encourage the organizations that we are associated with to manifest these ideals in every aspect, not just in relation to their data analysis practices.