IX GOVERNMENT 4 1 |J 



" The Individual and his Property, 1 " in which the 

 author, going back to first principles, after a ruth- 

 less criticism of both limited Individualism and 

 regimental Socialism, declares himself for unlimited 

 Individualism ; that is to say, Anarchy. Stirner 

 justly points out that " natural right" is nothing 

 but natural might. Man, in the state of nature, 

 could know of no reason why he should not freely 

 use his powers to satisfy his desires. When men 

 entered into society they were impelled by self- 

 interest. Each thought he could procure some 

 good for himself by that proceeding ; and his 

 natural right to make the most out of the situation 

 remained intact. The theory of an express con- 

 tract, with either complete or incomplete surren- 

 der of natural rights, is an empty figment, nor 

 was there any understanding, except perhaps that 

 each would grasp as much as he could reasonably 

 expect to keep. According to this development 

 of Individualism, therefore, the state of nature is 

 not really put an end to by the formation of a 

 polity ; the struggle for existence is as severe as 

 ever though its conditions are somewhat different. 

 It is a state of war ; but instead of the methods of 

 the savage, who sticks at no treachery, and revels 

 in wanton destruction, we have those of modem 

 warfare, with its Red Cross ambulances, flags of 

 truce strictly respected, and extermination con- 



1 Der Einzige und sein JEigenthum,\)y Max Stirner. I follow the 

 account of the contents of the book given by Meyer, Der Emanci- 

 pationskampf des vicrten Standes (Ed. 2, 1882, pp. 3644). 



