What constitutes immorality? (Was: One reporter reacts to JKR's revelations)

[Carol]

Carol earlier:
<snip>
> > I'm wondering whether there are any actions that you think are
immoral, for example, spanking, that other people might think are
acceptable behavior. I'm not talking about crimes, just things other
people do that disturb you and that you wouldn't want your children to
do. {Oops, I meant wouldn't want your children to be exposed to
because you consider them immoral.] Is spanking immoral? Smoking in a
house full of children? Closet alcoholism? Reading porn magazines or
visiting porn sites? Adultery? Incest between consenting adults? Is
any noncriminal behavior justifiably called immoral, or is the word
only used by religious conservatives to pass judgment on those they
disapprove of?
> > 
> > Just wondering what your view is on the subject. And don't worry.
 I'm not going to argue with any of your judgments. I only want to
know what you think. <snip>

Susan responded: 
> Okay, what do I consider immoral....
> Let me think about this..the things that jump to my mind are hurting
other people, assaulting someone, being verbally abusive, 

Carol:
Thanks very much for answering. I meant actions that aren't crimes, so
that would eliminate assault, just actions that you would pass moral
judgment against because they violate your standards or right and
wrong. Is being verbally abusive immoral or just, well, rude? In your
view, I mean.
> 
Susan:
> There are things that I find distasteful....things like certain 
sexual practices....I find the idea of incest even between consenting
adults distasteful...

Carol:
Distasteful or abhorrent? Would you be willing to pass moral judgment
on incest between consenting adults (I'm not talking about incest
involving children, which is a form of rape and a terrible crime) and
label it as immoral?
> 
Susan:
> I don't think spanking (I'm talking here about swatting a child on
the rear end, not beating a child) is per se immoral, although I 
don't consider it an effective means of child guidance....I don't 
smoke and have a very hard time with cigarette smoke....yes, I think 
adultery's wrong...but it's one of those judge not lest ye be judged
things....

Carol:
So adultery isn't immoral in your view even though it hurts the
faithful partner and can break up a marriage? 

Susan:
I have the hardest time with people who are unnecessarily harsh or
unkind to their partners or children...not criminal behavior...just
lack of compassion....

Carol:
But is lack of compassion morally wrong or just, say, unkind or
thoughtless? Would you use the word "immoral" in relation to, say, a
kindergarten teacher who sent a child to the principal's office for
wetting her pants? (Made-up example, but such things happen.)

Susan:
I find all kinds of injustice immoral. people being punished who don't
deserve to be punished....littering, befouling a scene of natural
beauty, more later...I have to go take my son to get a haircut..

Carol:
But there's a big difference between sending someone to prison for a
crime they didn't commit and littering. I hate littering, too, but
it's actually a misdemeanor, so I'm not sure that it should be on this
list. I was going to add one of my own, arson that causes huge fires
like the ones in California, but then I realized that that's a crime
no sane person could approve of. So I'm back to littering and
wondering what moral standard it violates. It's wrong, certainly, but
is it immoral?

In essence, whatever we consider immoral violates our standard of
morality. But what is morality? I mean, how do we determine what's
right and what's wrong? What standard can we judge by that everyone
will agree on?

Carol, thinking of Pilate's question, "What is truth?" and not knowing
the answer
>