Egoism - key concepts (Stirner is our guy for this)

The ego

• One’s self-awareness

  • Understanding one’s geuine wishes and desires, removed from societal expectations

Autonomy + example

• Form of self-govt in which individuals are not subject to the will of the state

• E.g. egoism is a form of autonomy

  • One does not need to susepnd own judgement/belief for the greater good

Autonomy - the achievement of oneness

• Avoid being put in a subordinate position by others

• Avoid being dragged along by your own apetites

  • Develop detatchment from your desires

Union of egoists

• Rejection of the idea that egoism is anti social

• UoE based on mutual consent of all members, come together through volutary agreements

• Does NOT involve submission of will to higher rule 

Egoism - the first meaning

• Individuals are self-concerned, interested and seeking

Egoism - the second meaning (Stirner)

• A philosophy that places individuals at the centre of their moral universe

  • This is the most advanced human state

    • Embodies a higher capacity to reason than modern society

  • Disproves social contract theory

    • Primitive societies need a state

      • This developed egoist society has no need for a state

Insurrection

• Act of individuals rising above the decaying establishment, leaving it to rot and die

  • Involves rejection of morality imposed by individual’s parents and society

Egoist views on religion + what they prefer instead

• >:(

• Oppressive

  • Seeks to force individuals to conform to strict social rules and ‘so-called’ morality

  • All religious and atheist doctrines seek to impose a correct way of living

• Prefer: open-minded engagement with the world