What constitutes an act to be 'right' or 'wrong?

Perspective.

"I was told today that I am devoid of morals"

You misspelled "intelligence".

As far as I've been told, right and wrong are two wholly different things so they can't be compared to one another in any way whatsoever. And morals should be universal sets of rules that basically all humans should follow. It also has to do with the laws that govern society. We all should be able to relate to those rules and find them natural, thinking they are part of us. So morals should express the good side of human nature and constitute the world order from a legal point of view as well.

For example, no one should be murdered and this is pretty obvious. It's about the way we feel we are supposed to treat other people and that definitely comes down to equal rights-related issues. But society on this planet in general is so biased that its members no longer even know what's right. So there are many gaps in the way it functions since hate and greed-generated war seem to be the only things that presently make the world go round. Bringing about peace should be the main rule the society should go by.

Since the definitions of "right" and "wrong" are so liable to variance and different people have different moral codes and systems they regard as superior or at least better than others, each with more or less merit (but that's another matter entirely), I'd say that empathy, or being able to put yourself in another's shoes, is what ultimately decides what constitutes a moral or ethical right or wrong for a particular person. It's the Golden Rule all over again: do unto others as you would have them do unto you, and don't do unto others as you wouldn't have them do unto you. If you want others to show you kindness, show it to them yourself; if you hate getting beat up, insulted, snubbed, or unjustly blamed, refrain from doing these things yourself.

I realize this way of seeing and doing things is an extremely simplistic and, I daresay, somewhat childish view of the world, but I can't think of any better way to live. In a world where so many people are so dogmatic about what they consider to be right or wrong/good or bad, yet can't arrive to an universal consensus every single person on the planet would willingly make theirs, there's no other way of knowing what's right and wrong to do or not do other than putting yourself in someone else's place and treating them the way you'd want to be treated yourself. Sure, it's not an infallible system and there're a lot of kinks to work out and matters that should be elaborated upon, but so far it's got the most solid cornerstone for morals and ethics that I can think of.

I recently made some very useful and absolute rules for this:

An act is good if the total (total of all happiness-feeling beings we know of) happiness (why happiness? happiness is at the base of all human actions (evolutionary logical) and is in a way the purpose to life) goes 'up' more with the action than without.

And exactly the opposite for a bad act.

'Right' and 'wrong' are relative terms. What is right to you may be wrong to others and vice versa. Hence the judging factor is your consciousness.

The inner consciousness knows what is natural justice and will always be telling you what is right and what is wrong. Follow that inner voice without getting swayed by emotions and bias. You will do the right thing.

last time i checked society decides what's right and wrong.

i grew up in a place where murder and lying where considered good, and helping those weaker than yourself and sharing where considered evil, it was a society based on strength. I got tired of living in Texas though

i can only speak of my measurement of right and wrong....when i act in a way that makes me sad or unhappy i know that it is wrong for me..this include other peoples feelings and reactions...if i do some thing that makes me feel good and happy i know its right for me...this also include other peoples responses(sometimes they are not positive)but i still feel good about my action.

Consider before you act, that is what it means. don't go straight ahead with anything unless;

It will benefit you and it has nothing to do with other persons' loses

It doesn't harm another person or his feelings

the mores of the society

Right and wrong are totally defined by how someone else is either happy or dissatisfied by your choice. Co-dependence, anyone?

Welcome to the world of free thought. We've been waiting for you.