We all have a strong basic instinct about it, Gs. We base it on concepts such as fairness, justice, honesty, the rule of law (though some laws are arguably unjust), helpful vs harmful intent, that sort of thing. We also base it on the concept of the Golden Rule...which is to treat others as you would honestly wish to be treated, were you put in their place.

People don't always know what's right and what's wrong, however. Sometimes they get confused by conflicting loyalties, politics, law, religion, family, financial pressures and considerations, command structure, patriotism, racial ideas, class consciousness, fear, and selfish concerns of all kinds.

So it's not as simple as it might seem at first glance.

I think that most people usually feel they are doing "the right thing" in the moment they do it, even when they do great harm. They may feel quite differently afterward, however, when they have seen the results of their actions.