The Ego and His Own

Max Stirner's The Ego and His Own (1845) is a philosophical work that argues for radical individualism. Stirner, a German antistatist philosopher, believed that social constructs like the state, society, and humanity are mere abstractions. He contended that these abstractions should not be taken seriously because they are not independent of the individual.1

Stirner's central idea is the finite, empirical ego, which he saw as the driving force behind all human actions. He advocated for individuals to become "egoists," or true individuals, by recognizing their own self-awareness and rebelling against any authority or social organization that imposes external values. This philosophy is sometimes seen as a precursor to existentialism.12