morality
This term describes the internal or societal compass used to judge the ethics of an action. It carries a heavy weight of judgment and often implies a standard that must be upheld to maintain social order or personal integrity. It is frequently contrasted with legality, as something can be legal but deemed a violation of morality.
In a philosophical context, it refers to the theoretical study of right and wrong, whereas in a social context, it often refers to the specific customs and traditional codes of a particular group. It evokes a feeling of obligation and the pressure to conform to a perceived higher truth or collective agreement.
Uncountable when referring to the general concept of right and wrong (a question of morality). Countable when referring to specific systems of belief held by different cultures or individuals (the competing moralities of the two tribes).