The Ego and His Own
"The Ego and His Own" by Max Stirner is a philosophical work published in 1844. This radical text dismantles Christianity, morality, humanism, liberalism, and socialism, proposing instead a philosophy of uncompromising egoism. Stirner argues that modern individuals remain enslaved by ideological "spooks"—fixed ideas like religion, nationalism, and even concepts of human nature itself. He traces how the Reformation deepened spiritual domination and critiques fellow philosophers for merely substituting new forms of worship. Stirner advocates for "Ownness," a state beyond freedom where individuals recognize themselves as their own property, rejecting external callings and abstract rights.