Part 5/10:
Egoism as Conscious Self-Interest
Stirner’s concept of egoism is often misunderstood. Unlike the crude self-interest associated with capitalism, Stirner’s egoism champions a proactive engagement with the world that allows individuals to assert ownership over their desires and ideas. He introduces the notion of “the union of egoists,” which serves as an alternative to organized society—a framework for individuals to coexist freely while pursuing their own self-interests.
He reframes property not in the context of economic ownership but rather as anything a conscious egoist can claim as their own. This understanding broadens the scope of what individual autonomy can encompass, urging engagement and resistance against alienating societal structures.