When discussing morals - in any sense - is the act what counts or whether you're caught in the act? The question arises from another thread where the idea came up that checking someone out (i.e. staring at a woman's butt while walking behind her) is only "wrong" if it's for a prolonged amount of time or creeps them out. Then"immorality" is in being caught, not the act itself.
We could apply this elsewhere. Is stealing $100 from someone who has hundreds of thousands wrong in general despite the individual not being aware of the theft, or is it only wrong if the individual notices / catches you?
Is it wrong to take supplies from work or only if you get caught?
A more extreme example could be; is it wrong to kill an individual who is illegal and homeless, who's death will never be discovered and absense will never be noticed?
Bonus Topic!
Does morality apply differently in all these situations? Does act vs awareness weigh differently in different situations?
Morality is about how you feel about an action. If you like to look at a women's behind then your morality is that it is ok else you wouldn't be doing it. Morals are pretty much arbitrary. To a degree. The reality is environment/culture/religion influence your morals. What you feel is right or wrong to do.
However society can't have everyone going about doing whatever they feel is right to do. So we've laws to limit your morals. You may feel it is morally ok to kill someone for whatever reason. Spouse cheating on you or some such. Society will punish you and enforce some kind of consequence for your actions. Culturally the group will judge your actions immoral and make you feel guilty and possibly ostracize you for some action.
So in the moment, in the circumstances you acted according to your morals. If you really felt the action was wrong, you wouldn't have done it. Later you may regret because of being made to feel guilty or punished. You may even accept your actions were immoral. But in truth they weren't for you in the moment of action.
Immorality is just the judgement others place on your morals. Your sense of right and wrong. However in most cases you have no control over your morals. They were caused by elements out of your control. What you feel is right is what you feel is right. You can for whatever reason, like fear of the consequences, choose not to act in the manner you feel is right.
So your morals are not your fault, you can't control what you feel. However people will judge you for them. Better not to be judge in some cases and keep your morality hidden. However when/if you think you can get away with it you'll act on your true morals.
You can control your actions. You can act against your morals because of per pressure, religious ethics, laws, threats etc. Guilt, a lot of people don't act according to their morals because of the guilt they are made to feel.
Your morals are not logical/rational. We maybe find ways to justify them but the reality is it is just what you feel is the right action to take at that moment.
Circumstance may change what you feel is the right action to take. Your morals may change as you are influenced by external sources. Sometimes you maybe conscious of these influences sometimes you won't.
