New: Essay on modern virtue signaling • Discourse, Morality & Freedom

How much morality can a free society take?

In recent years, public debate has changed dramatically. Terms like , , and shape media, institutions, and social networks. But what lies behind this new form of virtue policing—and what does it do to , , and democratic discourse?
“Wokeism & Hypermorality”Ideal for: politics & societysociology & philosophyjournalismstudy & teaching

Keywords: Wokism • Hypermorality • Cancel Culture • Virtue Signaling • Political Correctness • Freedom of Speech • Censorship • Identity Politics • Moral Outrage • Tolerance vs. Morality • Social Polarization • Activism • Freedom vs. Morality

What it’s about

Key themes and fault lines: concepts, mechanisms, and what they mean for discourse, tolerance, and freedom.

🧭 Terms & mechanisms

What we mean by wokeism, hypermorality, and virtue policing—and how moral narratives are produced.

🗣️ Free speech & discourse

Where criticism ends and censorship begins: cancel culture, language rules, and fear of dissent.

🧩 Identity politics

How group logics, victim hierarchies, and “moral superiority” intensify polarization.

⚖️ Tolerance vs. morality

Why intolerance sometimes disguises itself as tolerance—and what that does to democracy.

📣 Virtue signaling

How public outrage, moral indignation, and symbolic politics drive social dynamics.

🔍 Freedom & responsibility

Self‑determination, minority protection, and social change: how a balance can be found.

Excerpt

A brief impression—tone, argument, and guiding questions.

Excerpt (teaser)

In today’s debate, morality is increasingly treated as the yardstick for thinking and acting. But who sets these standards—and with what consequences for freedom, pluralism, and democracy?

This book examines the dynamics of contemporary moral movements and shows how well‑intended sensitivity can turn into moral pressure, social control, and ideological polarization.

• What lies behind cancel culture and virtue signaling? • How do language rules and outrage culture reshape public discourse? • Where is the line between tolerance and moral dominance? • How much morality can a free society take?

“The new political correctness has gained increasing importance in recent years and now shapes many areas of our social life. What began as a well‑intended attempt to avoid discriminatory language and behavior has developed into a complex—and often absurdly debated—phenomenon.”

“To understand this new political correctness as a whole, we first need to look at its historical roots. The term ‘politically correct’ first appeared in the 1930s in Marxist circles and originally referred to strict adherence to the party line.”

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Reviews

“Razor‑sharp clarity without cynicism: an analysis that disarms outrage and puts concepts in order.”

— Review / blog

“A smart contribution to the debate on freedom, morality, and identity politics—ideal for discussion.”

— Press / magazine

“Pointed, provocative, well structured: anyone who wants to understand cancel culture will find plenty to chew on.”

— Reader voice

About the author

More background, essays, and books: alterstorheiten.info

Hermann Selchow

Born in 1956. Since his youth, he has been fascinated by social questions and philosophical concepts. For many years, he worked at a well‑known German theatre, engaging with the intellectual currents of different eras. Later, he moved into other professional fields—and eventually published his reflections in book form.

Website Bookshelf Blog

FAQ

Short answers to typical questions (editable).

Is the book more analysis or forecast?

Both: it classifies current developments in a fact‑based way and derives plausible scenarios for a multipolar world order—without selling easy certainties.

Which actors are in focus?

The focus is on the USA and the EU as well as China, Russia, the BRICS countries, and the Global South— including new alliances and geopolitical interests.

Does it also cover the economy, energy, and technology?

Yes. Resources, the energy crisis, supply chains, and technological primacy are treated as central power factors—with an eye on markets and strategic dependencies.

Who is this book especially for?

For politically interested readers, students, journalists, analysts, and decision‑makers—as well as reading groups that want to discuss world order, hegemony, and multipolarity.