Moved from Anarchism 101. Egoism?

[Bernard]

Can anyone help me to understand egoism? it isn't something I've really ran into till recently. other then just a general idea. I was on a different site and had said something about useing propaganda to bring young people to our cause when the opportunity is there. I was using as an example young liberal people that come to protest against police and ask questions about leftist ideology. I got argument from someone saying as an egoist he believes that the revolution should only be about himself not being part of a hierarchical system, and trying to indoctrinate people is counter-revolutionary. I get he means each person should worry about themselves not just him but I don't see how these ideas are even leftist. How would any change happen if we don't tell other people about anarchism? Is this person some sort of a ancap who is confused. Or am I misunderstanding. I've looked up and read some basic stuff on egoism but it so far isn't really clearing anything up. Appreciate any help understanding.

[Bernard]

Also I don't know if it really matters but this wasn't on any sort of political forum, it was actually a train hopping forum. Just for context

[tout]

Just reposting/moving my response to here:

I'm not personally a big fan of egoism. Individual freedom has always been an important part of anarchism, but isn't always positioned against everything else. Individual freedom only really makes sense and finds its expression through the freedom of others who we act alongside. I'm not the best person to ask for a good faith summarization of the ideas since I've always found the foundation of egoism a bit preposterous to be honest. You're right to see it as similar to anarcho-capitalism with the main difference being that egoists are also opposed to capitalism.

[Stephanie]

Ok that last sentence is kind of weird. I don't consider anarcho-capitalists to be anarchists at all because they usually believe in some kind of laws or constitution. Egoists are either anarchists or nihilists, they just don't believe in trying to proselytize to people like other leftist groups for many reasons.

Can some egoists be obnoxious about their "uniqueness"? Hell fucking yes. But not as obnoxious as someone trying to convince me to go to their next meeting.

[Dot]

First off, here are a few books about egoism that are worth checking out, depending on how much you want to know, right? :)
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

and then of course the text that most folks quote as the source of egoism is stirner. the idea is generally anti-social (because society is an idea that people sacrifice themselves to, rather than thinking for themselves and making decisions for themselves). the ideas (and language) runs up against what people consider to be themselves (how much are we alone vs how much are we connected to others).

the most superficial interpretation tends to encourage people to be selfish assholes, but as stephanie says, it's arguable if that's more obnoxious (or dangerous) than people assuming that there is a single clear good that everyone agrees to, now please-buy-my-paper.