Editing Max Stirner (section)

=== Egoism ===
{{individualism sidebar}}
Stirner's [[Egoist anarchism|egoism]] argues that individuals are impossible to fully comprehend, as no understanding of [[the self]] can adequately describe the fullness of experience. Stirner has been broadly understood as containing traits of both [[psychological egoism]] and [[rational egoism]]. Unlike the self-interest described by [[Ayn Rand]], Stirner did not address individual self-interest, selfishness, or prescriptions for how one should act. He urged individuals to decide for themselves and fulfill their own egoism.<ref name="McKay 2012"/>

He believed that everyone was propelled by their own egoism and desires and that those who accepted this—as willing egoists—could freely live their individual desires, while those who did not—as unwilling egoists—will falsely believe they are fulfilling another cause while they are secretly fulfilling their own desires for happiness and security. The willing egoist would see that they could act freely, unbound from obedience to sacred but artificial truths like law, rights, morality, and religion. Power is the method of Stirner's egoism and the only justified method of gaining [[Property (philosophy)|philosophical property]]. Stirner did not believe in the one-track pursuit of greed, which as only one aspect of the ego would lead to being possessed by a cause other than the full ego. He did not believe in [[natural rights]] to property and encouraged insurrection against all forms of authority, including disrespect for property.<ref name="McKay 2012"/>