This document summarizes and discusses several ethical theories: relativism, principle-based ethics, utilitarianism, and virtue ethics. It also analyzes a scenario regarding whether a transgender employee should be allowed to use the women's restroom or be asked to use the men's restroom instead to appease a complaining customer. Under relativism, the decision would depend on the owner's beliefs. Using a principle-based approach, the employee should be allowed to use the women's restroom since universal principles of gender identity and non-discrimination are most important. A virtue ethics perspective also supports the employee's choice since the motive of both parties is to use the restroom aligning with their gender identity.

1. THE THEORY OF ETHICS
Natalie Scarbrough

2. Relativism
■ "Ethical values and judgements are ultimately dependent upon, or relative to, one's
culture, society, or personal feelings...there is no right or wrong, moral or immoral,
expect in terms of a particular culture or society" (p.25)
Pros Cons
Allows us to clarify beliefs without
unequivocally justifying them.
It says that every opinion is valid which
makes the discussion of ethics moot.
Relates opinions based on principles, not
just opinions based on emotions and
feelings.
There can be extreme inconsistence
between cultures and can communicate
in prejudices.

3. Principle-based
■ “Emphasizes the fact that sometimes the correct path is determined not by its
consequences but by certain principles, or duties… the ends don’t justify the means”
(p.37).
– Immanuel Kant simplifies this thought of ethics by saying that people must “act only
according to those [intentions] that could be universally accepted and acted on” (p.38).
Pros Cons
This does not allow certain individuals to make
deals that others can not. (For example CEOs
would not be able to make bonuses without
giving their employees equal)
It is very difficult to ensure that you are
absolutely not taking advantage of another or
being taken advantage of yourself.
Everyone has the right to autonomy and their
own choices.
Allowances are not made based on individual
circumstance no matter how great.

4. Utilitarianism
■ "Tells us that we can determine the ethical significance of any action by looking to the
consequences" (p.29)
Pros Cons
Focuses on the benefits a decision will
have on the population as a whole to
best benefit the most people.
Does not take into account the needs or
rights of the minority.
Ideally requires all consequences to be
looked into before a decision is made.
It is very difficult to think of every single
consequence in a problem what will
effect a large population.

5. Virtue-based
■ “Seeks a full and detailed description of those character traits, or virtues, that would
constitute a good and full human life” (p.41).
Pros Cons
Asks us to question what causes made a
person to decide on a particular action.
People tend to act in their self interests and
what would make them happy.
Asks us to question to motive of companies
for different policies.
Companies who are strictly for-profit would
not necessarily make plans to help other
people.

6. The Bathroom Issue
A transgender woman recently started working at a local
clothing store. She has been using the women's restroom
since she began, but one customer complained to the owner.
The owner now faces a question: should they allow the worker
to continue using the women’s restroom or tell her to use the
men’s to make the customer feel more comfortable?

7. ■ Relativism: It would depend on the beliefs of the owner.
– If the owner of the business believes that customers are the most important, than they would
be more likely to say that the employee would need to use the men’s room. If the owner
believes that workers are important and transgender individuals should be able to use the
restroom they feel comfortable with, the employee would use the women’s room.
■ Principle-based:The employee would use the women’s room.
– The universal principle that everyone should be able to use the restroom of the gender they
identify with would be more important than the loss of one customer.
Should an employer allow a transgender worker to continue
using the women’s restroom or tell her to use the men’s to
make a customer feel more comfortable?

8. Should an employer allow a transgender worker to continue
using the women’s restroom or tell her to use the men’s to
make a customer feel more comfortable?
■ Principle-based:The employee would use the women’s room.
– The universal principle that everyone should be able to use the restroom of the gender they
identify with would be more important than the loss of one customer.
■ Virtue based:The employee would use the women’s room.
– The motive behind both the customer and employee using the women’s restroom is that
they identify as women.Therefore, they should have the same opportunity to choice the
bathroom they wish to use.

9. The References
■ DesJardins, Joseph R. An Introduction to Business Ethics. McGraw Hill, 2014.