Ideas of Max Stirner, by Theme

[German, 1806 - 1856, Born in Bayreuth. Studied with Schleiermacher and Hegel. Died in Berlin of an insect bite.]

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23. Ethics / F. Existentialism / 6. Authentic Self
I am a creative nothing, out of which I myself create everything
     Full Idea: I am not nothing in the sense of emptiness, but I am the creative nothing, the nothing out of which I myself as creator create everything.
     From: Max Stirner (The Ego and Its Own [1844]), quoted by Simon Critchley - Continental Philosophy - V. Short Intro Ch.2
     A reaction: This appears to be the germ of the entire existentialist view, which gives a helpful gloss on the concept of 'nothing' - as the motivation for human creation, the vacuum in the mind that has to be filled. Call it 'creative boredom'.