Morality is a social construct, I agree but it is hopefully based and wound around the tao, Dharma. It does not matter if you are religious or an atheist. What you do is your Karma and then there is the way, Dharma. Would you do that which is righteous even when life turns sour ? I am as conceited and illusioned as the next person but I try to kill the beast within me and I fight hard at it. Of course, I’ve never been in absolute poverty either and I’m thankful for it. The subject of the post (wallet) is immaterial and it is just the cause that led me to this question, that has been dormant for so long..

I liked the reference to the second story. But like I said, if there is a greater probability that people will do the right thing, then may be, we are making that slow evolution.

Like to quote two things here. In the movie Pudhupettai Dhanush is admonished by his henchmen that he should not have ‘stolen & married’ the bride of another.And he retorts by asking, if you knew that you had the power to take something and be immune from repercussions, would you take it? This is one perspective of morality,a morality of power.

The second is a story from Shaivaite literature, guess its Thirumandiram..not sure though and you might already know the story of the Fisherman. Who gives up the single gold fish that turns up in his net as an offering to Shiva, though he knows for certain his family would die of starvation that day. This is a honesty of the highest order.

I would like to think the human race is capable of both these extremes and every gradation in between.