Liberalism That Wins
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In this book, Nathan J. Murphy tackles one of the defining questions of our time: why is democracy losing trust, and how can we rebuild it so it lasts?
He sets out a new framework — Scientific Liberalism — which combines insights from moral psychology and evolutionary science to design political systems that work with human nature, not against it. By starting from the way people actually think, feel, and cooperate, Murphy shows how we can create institutions that are more legitimate, more adaptive, and more resilient in the face of crisis.
Along the way, he explores four core moral instincts — fairness, care, cooperation, and belonging — and reveals how they shape our political choices, our social bonds, and our sense of legitimacy. The result is a political philosophy grounded in evidence, capable of bridging divides, and ready to meet the challenges of the 21st century.
The book brings together research from behavioural science, anthropology, sociology, neuroscience, history, and political theory, distilling decades of scholarship into an actionable blueprint for democratic renewal.
It concludes with practical design principles for political systems, movements, and reforms that can strengthen democracy against extremes, reunite the democratic centre, and offer a vision people can believe in.
Liberalism That Wins is essential reading for:
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Citizens who want to understand why democracies falter and how they can be renewed.
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Reformers, activists, and policymakers seeking a science-based framework for political change.
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Thinkers and writers interested in the intersection of politics, philosophy, and human nature.
Book information:
Title: Liberalism That Wins
Author: Nathan J Murphy
ISBN (Print): 978-1-0686110-2-5
ISBN (eBook): 978-1-0686110-3-2
Pages: 111
Published by: Prepolitica (October 2025)
Endorsements
This book has received endorsements from leading figures across the scientific fields on which it builds.
"This insightful and brilliant perspective offers a compelling argument that liberal democracies, rooted in our biological predispositions for morality, provides the conditions for stability, progress, and human flourishing. Our evolved preferences for fairness, care, cooperation, and group loyalty are the foundation for a scientific-based liberalism. By understanding these instincts, we can see how human nature shapes politics and why liberal values create the best conditions for stability, progress, and human well-being."
Dr. Jean Decety
John D. MacArthur Distinguished Professor
Department of Psychology
University of Chicago
Expertise as relates to the work:
Dr. Decety is a world-renowned neuroscientist and psychologist, best known for pioneering research on the neural and developmental foundations of empathy and morality. As the John D. MacArthur Distinguished Professor at the University of Chicago, his work bridges psychology, neuroscience, and psychiatry — showing how our moral instincts are rooted in human biology.
"Murphy’s description of natural human tendencies is a wonderful reminder of our species’ potential for handling conflict well. His appeal to rethink how our politics work should be cherished regardless of where you sit on the great political divide."
Dr. Richard Wrangham
Professor of Biological Anthropology, Emeritus
Harvard University
Expertise as relates to the work:
Dr. Wrangham is one of the world’s most famous anthropologists and primatologists, best known for his research on aggression, cooperation, and the evolution of human morality. As the Ruth B. Moore Professor of Biological Anthropology at Harvard University, his studies of chimpanzees and human self-domestication provide foundational evidence for how reduced aggression and cooperation enabled human society to flourish.
"At a time when liberal democracy is faltering, Liberalism That Wins presents a coherent vision for reform rooted in human nature. It shows how policies aligned with our moral instincts can rebuild trust, strengthen cooperation, and revitalize liberal institutions."
Dr. Takis S. Pappas
Author of Populism and Liberal Democracy: A Comparative and Theoretical Analysis
(Oxford University Press)
Expertise as relates to the work:
Dr. Pappas is a political scientist specialising in populism, democracy, and democratic decline. Author of Populism and Liberal Democracy, his comparative research has shaped global understanding of how liberal institutions falter and how they can be renewed.
"Wonderfully rooted in a deep and scientifically grounded understanding of human nature, Liberalism That Wins provides a roadmap to a more effective politics and a more moral and free society."
Dr. Jon Manner
Professor of Social and Evolutionary Psychology
Florida State University
Expertise as relates to the work:
Dr. Maner is a leading researcher bridging social and evolutionary psychology, studying how motivation, emotion, and social cognition shape human behavior. A professor at Florida State University, his work explores fundamental motives — such as the drive for affiliation, protection, and hierarchy — that underlie cooperation, group life, and the stability of human societies.
"The post-war liberal order faces significant challenges. This book effectively argues that understanding our innate moral preferences, which evolved to foster cohesive and collaborative social groups, can serve as a solid foundation for revitalizing liberal democracy."
Dr. Mario F. Mendez
Professor of Neurology and Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
