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Stirner's philosophy operates on a foundation built around self-interest, contending that individuals should prioritize their own desires and needs over collective ideals or moral constructs. His work is structured around a developmental framework of human thought, which he divides into three distinct stages: realism, idealism, and egoism.
Stage One: Realism
In the first stage, Stirner identifies realism, marked by a focus on the tangible needs and desires of the individual. He draws parallels between this stage and the mind of a young child, who interacts primarily with the world around them through direct experiences. Here, individuals are governed by their appetites, constrained by their lack of power and ability to choose beyond their immediate desires.