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Politics and morality: The problems of ethical debate for an evolved social species
What are the moral consequences of Homo sapiens being just another animal species? If we accept this somewhat uncontroversial assumption, from a scientific viewpoint at least, then we must consider why humans would have a moral sense in the first place? It is highly unlikely that this feature has evolved to enable humanity to decipher the ultimate meaning of the universe, to distinguish between universally right and wrong behaviour, to reward the good and punish evildoers; yet moral debate, and accordingly the justifications for societies and political orders built upon these moral foundations, frequently takes this as its starting point. On the contrary, one might reasonably suspect the truth to be much less supernatural.
The ‘culture wars’ in recent decades have been characterised by a profound and widening disagreement over public morals and values, resulting in increased political polarisation and conflict. This kind of discord should not surprise us, however, as debates over social values and the meaning of right and wrong have been a persistent feature of human civilisation throughout history. So why does this happen? What is truly at stake when a society engages in political and moral debates? What does it all mean? These fundamental questions are examined in this exciting new work from author Stephen MacSuibhne.
Politics and Morality investigates the sources of human morality, how moral systems are constructed, and how this relates to political debate. The analysis integrates a wide range of theories and ideas to form an original, provocative, and compelling argument, which opens the door to a profound exploration of human nature, ethics, and political life. Yet, the purpose of this study is not to seek specific answers to our philosophical questions, but to reset the terms of political dialogue, to develop better methods for analysing present and historical issues, and to find a new way to approach political conversations. The impact of these findings on political discourse could potentially be both radical and momentous.
Politics and Morality is an engaging and thought-provoking read in these troubled and dangerous times.
The ‘culture wars’ in recent decades have been characterised by a profound and widening disagreement over public morals and values, resulting in increased political polarisation and conflict. This kind of discord should not surprise us, however, as debates over social values and the meaning of right and wrong have been a persistent feature of human civilisation throughout history. So why does this happen? What is truly at stake when a society engages in political and moral debates? What does it all mean? These fundamental questions are examined in this exciting new work from author Stephen MacSuibhne.
Politics and Morality investigates the sources of human morality, how moral systems are constructed, and how this relates to political debate. The analysis integrates a wide range of theories and ideas to form an original, provocative, and compelling argument, which opens the door to a profound exploration of human nature, ethics, and political life. Yet, the purpose of this study is not to seek specific answers to our philosophical questions, but to reset the terms of political dialogue, to develop better methods for analysing present and historical issues, and to find a new way to approach political conversations. The impact of these findings on political discourse could potentially be both radical and momentous.
Politics and Morality is an engaging and thought-provoking read in these troubled and dangerous times.
- GenresHistory
260 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 18, 2025
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December 22, 2025
Loved it! 😍
Rethinking Human Nature: A Review of the Challenging New Book, Politics and Morality
Reedsy Review by Laura Hattersley
Stephen MacSuibhne’s Politics and Morality offers an ambitious and risqué examination of how ethics, political structures, and human behavior emerge from our evolution as a social species. Writing from a background that blends evolutionary theory, philosophy, and political analysis, MacSuibhne sets out to challenge popular and long held assumptions about morality as a fixed or sacred truth. His central claim—that moral systems are adaptive tools shaped by cooperation, competition, status, reciprocity, and shifting insider–outsider boundaries—was, for me, one of the book’s most striking and unsettling arguments; and one that struck home for me in a powerful way.
MacSuibhne moves fluidly between evolutionary explanations of social norms and broader reflections on ideology, culture, and political conflict. I was especially drawn to the chapters on status, reciprocity, and violence, which grounded abstract political ideas in the practical realities of human psychology. His discussion of “moral manipulation” and the construction of social reality stood out as particularly insightful, showing how legitimacy is often created through stories, institutions, and shared myths rather than moral consistency.
As I read, I found myself reflecting on my own experiences with institutions and authority, and how for me moral language was used to justify power rather than accountability. MacSuibhne’s argument helped me articulate something I have long sensed: that appeals to “right” and “wrong” frequently mask our instincts for control, belonging, and exclusion. The book does not dismiss ethics outright, but it does force the reader to confront how fragile and contingent our moral frameworks really are.
MacSuibhne challenges the idea of inevitable moral progress and questions whether modern political discourse is truly more enlightened than earlier forms of tribalism. While compelling, the book’s evolutionary explanations felt to me as if they occasionally generalize human nature in ways that risk flattening important cultural and historical distinctions. I also occasionally wished for a clearer explanation on how societies might pursue ethical progress once these illusions are stripped away.
In its approach, Politics and Morality will appeal to readers of thinkers such as Jonathan Haidt, Frans de Waal, and even aspects of Hobbes or Nietzsche, though MacSuibhne is less prescriptive and more diagnostic. Overall, I found the book original, challenging, and deeply thought-provoking. Even where I disagreed, it succeeded in forcing me to look closer at how morality and power actually function—rather than how I might wish them to, something I have reflected on for nearly two decades.
Rethinking Human Nature: A Review of the Challenging New Book, Politics and Morality
Reedsy Review by Laura Hattersley
Stephen MacSuibhne’s Politics and Morality offers an ambitious and risqué examination of how ethics, political structures, and human behavior emerge from our evolution as a social species. Writing from a background that blends evolutionary theory, philosophy, and political analysis, MacSuibhne sets out to challenge popular and long held assumptions about morality as a fixed or sacred truth. His central claim—that moral systems are adaptive tools shaped by cooperation, competition, status, reciprocity, and shifting insider–outsider boundaries—was, for me, one of the book’s most striking and unsettling arguments; and one that struck home for me in a powerful way.
MacSuibhne moves fluidly between evolutionary explanations of social norms and broader reflections on ideology, culture, and political conflict. I was especially drawn to the chapters on status, reciprocity, and violence, which grounded abstract political ideas in the practical realities of human psychology. His discussion of “moral manipulation” and the construction of social reality stood out as particularly insightful, showing how legitimacy is often created through stories, institutions, and shared myths rather than moral consistency.
As I read, I found myself reflecting on my own experiences with institutions and authority, and how for me moral language was used to justify power rather than accountability. MacSuibhne’s argument helped me articulate something I have long sensed: that appeals to “right” and “wrong” frequently mask our instincts for control, belonging, and exclusion. The book does not dismiss ethics outright, but it does force the reader to confront how fragile and contingent our moral frameworks really are.
MacSuibhne challenges the idea of inevitable moral progress and questions whether modern political discourse is truly more enlightened than earlier forms of tribalism. While compelling, the book’s evolutionary explanations felt to me as if they occasionally generalize human nature in ways that risk flattening important cultural and historical distinctions. I also occasionally wished for a clearer explanation on how societies might pursue ethical progress once these illusions are stripped away.
In its approach, Politics and Morality will appeal to readers of thinkers such as Jonathan Haidt, Frans de Waal, and even aspects of Hobbes or Nietzsche, though MacSuibhne is less prescriptive and more diagnostic. Overall, I found the book original, challenging, and deeply thought-provoking. Even where I disagreed, it succeeded in forcing me to look closer at how morality and power actually function—rather than how I might wish them to, something I have reflected on for nearly two decades.
Displaying 1 of 1 review