Max Stirner's Dialectical Egoism, John F. Welsh
This interpretation examines Stirner's thought as a critique of modernity, by which he meant the domination of culture and politics by humanist ideology. In Stirner's view, 'humanity' is the supreme being of modernity and 'humanism' is the prevailing legitimation of social and political domination. Welsh traces Stirner's thought from his early essays to The Ego and Its Own and Stirner's responses to his critics. He also examines how Benjamin Tucker, James L. Walker, and Dora Marsden applied Stirner's dialectical egoism to the analysis of (a) the transformations of capitalism, (b) culture, ethics, and mass psychology, and (c) feminism, socialism, and communism.
All three viewed Stirner as a champion of individuality against the collectivizing and homogenizing forces of the modern world. Welsh also takes great care to dissociate Stirner's thought from that of the other great egoist critic of modernity, Friedrich Nietzsche. He argues that the similarities in the dissidence of Stirner and Nietzsche are superficial. T
he book concludes with an interpretation of Stirner's thought as a form of dialectical egoism that includes (a) a multi-tiered analysis of culture, society, and individuality; (b) the basic principles of Stirner's view of the relationship between individuals and social organization; and (c) the forms of critique he employs. Stirner's critique of modernity is a significant contribution to the growing literature on libertarianism, dialectical analysis, and post-modernism.
Contents:
PART I: MAX STIRNER AND DIALECTICAL EGOISM
1. Max Stirner: "The Peaceful Enemy of All Constraint"
2. Humanity - the New Supreme Being: Stirner's Summation and Critique of Modernity
3. Ownness and Modernity: The Political Meaning of Dialectical Egoism
PART II: STIRNER'S INFLUENCE: THREE ENCOUNTERS WITH DIALECTICAL EGOISM
4. The Political Economy of Modernity: Benjamin R. Tucker and the Critique of the Capitalist State
5. Reciprocity and Predation in Everyday Life: The Egoist Thought of James L. Walker
6. Beyond Feminism, Beyond Anarchism: Egoism and the Political Thought of Dora Marsden
PART III: MAX STIRNER AND THE CRITIQUE OF MODERNITY
7. Two Who Made an Insurrection: Stirner, Nietzsche, and the Revolt against Modernity
8. Dialectical Egoism: Elements of a Theoretical Framework
Max Stirner's Dialectical Egoism, John F. Welsh
This interpretation examines Stirner's thought as a critique of modernity, by which he meant the domination of culture and politics by humanist ideology. In Stirner's view, 'humanity' is the supreme being of modernity and 'humanism' is the prevailing legitimation of social and political domination. Welsh traces Stirner's thought from his early essays to The Ego and Its Own and Stirner's responses to his critics. He also examines how Benjamin Tucker, James L. Walker, and Dora Marsden applied Stirner's dialectical egoism to the analysis of (a) the transformations of capitalism, (b) culture, ethics, and mass psychology, and (c) feminism, socialism, and communism.
All three viewed Stirner as a champion of individuality against the collectivizing and homogenizing forces of the modern world. Welsh also takes great care to dissociate Stirner's thought from that of the other great egoist critic of modernity, Friedrich Nietzsche. He argues that the similarities in the dissidence of Stirner and Nietzsche are superficial. T
he book concludes with an interpretation of Stirner's thought as a form of dialectical egoism that includes (a) a multi-tiered analysis of culture, society, and individuality; (b) the basic principles of Stirner's view of the relationship between individuals and social organization; and (c) the forms of critique he employs. Stirner's critique of modernity is a significant contribution to the growing literature on libertarianism, dialectical analysis, and post-modernism.
Contents:
PART I: MAX STIRNER AND DIALECTICAL EGOISM
1. Max Stirner: "The Peaceful Enemy of All Constraint"
2. Humanity - the New Supreme Being: Stirner's Summation and Critique of Modernity
3. Ownness and Modernity: The Political Meaning of Dialectical Egoism
PART II: STIRNER'S INFLUENCE: THREE ENCOUNTERS WITH DIALECTICAL EGOISM
4. The Political Economy of Modernity: Benjamin R. Tucker and the Critique of the Capitalist State
5. Reciprocity and Predation in Everyday Life: The Egoist Thought of James L. Walker
6. Beyond Feminism, Beyond Anarchism: Egoism and the Political Thought of Dora Marsden
PART III: MAX STIRNER AND THE CRITIQUE OF MODERNITY
7. Two Who Made an Insurrection: Stirner, Nietzsche, and the Revolt against Modernity
8. Dialectical Egoism: Elements of a Theoretical Framework
