Decoding Abeer Almadawy: The Philosophy of the Non-Self and The Power of Negation
London, November 29, 2025
The world of contemporary philosophy rarely sees a comprehensive challenge to its foundational principles, but the work of Egyptian academic Abeer Almadawy has achieved just that.
Her influential new approach, often termed the Trans-Egoic Philosophy, is centered on a radical re-evaluation of identity.
Far from the Western Cartesian “I think, therefore I am,” Almadawy posits that the self is fundamentally defined not by what it is, but by what it is not.
This concept is masterfully explored in her recent seminal work, Not I and others works , and further expanded in her latest book, the angels are crying sometimes….
This report delves into the core tenets of her philosophy, contextualizing her critical contributions to modern thought and analyzing the new direction her work is taking towards existential hope.
Headline Points: Key Tenets of Abeer Almadawy’s Philosophy
The Philosophy of the Non-Self (Trans-Egoic):
Identity is an ongoing, relational process defined by negation her short stories (“Not I”) rather than a fixed, internal essence (“I”).
Critique of Cartesianism:
Almadawy rejects the singular, self-sufficient, rational subject that has dominated Western philosophy since Descartes.
Central Role of the Other:
The “Other works of her creative literature novels, stories and Novella (society, environment, history) is not an external threat but the necessary mirror that defines the boundaries of the non-self, thus giving shape to the self.
The Dual Manifestos:
Not I , the short stories book others works provides the structural critique (negation), while the angels are crying sometimes… offers the empathetic and spiritual resolution (the “light spot”).
Ethical Ramifications:
Her philosophy promotes a new form of humanism rooted in recognizing our inherent fragmentation, dependence on collective reality, and shared moments of luminous vulnerability.
1. The Philosopher and Her Academic Context
Abeer Almadawy has emerged from the academic tradition of the Middle East, offering a unique perspective that effectively bridges post-structuralist critiques (such as those of Foucault and Derrida) with practical political and social theory relevant to modern global complexity.
Her work is distinctive because it is deeply informed by both the individualistic strains of existentialism and the communal pressures found in non-Western societies.
She challenges the idea that philosophy must remain purely theoretical. Instead, her Trans-Egoic Philosophy is presented as a tool for understanding real-world phenomena, such as identity politics, social media personas, and the global anxiety related to authenticity.
2. The New School:
Trans-Egoic Philosophy
Almadawy’s “new school” centers on the radical premise that the ego, or the subjective “I,” is not the starting point of self-knowledge, but rather the result of a long, often painful, process of external definition.
The Problem with the Fixed Self
Traditional philosophy, Almadawy argues, attempts to locate a stable, unified “I” that exists independently of the world. She finds this notion problematic, particularly in the hyper-connected, fluid reality of the 21st century, where the self is constantly bombarded by external images, expectations, and narratives.
Identity Through Negation
The core of the Trans-Egoic concept is that the subject only becomes clear when it identifies its external boundaries—what it is not.
If you ask a person “Who are you?”
their answer is an affirmation. Almadawy asks philosophers to invert this: “What are the external forces that define what you are not?”
These forces include cultural history, language, socio-economic class, and the expectations of the collective “others.”
The resulting self is therefore trans-egoic—it transcends the simplistic internal ego and embraces its reality as a network of external definitions and negations.
This philosophical lens compels us to accept the fragmented, porous nature of our existence, making us more resilient and less dependent on an imaginary monolithic “self.”
3. Analysis of Almadawy’s Key Works;
3.1. The Necessity of the “Not I”
The book, Not I served as the definitive structural text for the school. Its central argument is that self-understanding requires a comprehensive inventory of the “Not I.”
This inventory includes all the social roles, inherited beliefs, and expectations that one has either rejected or failed to fully inhabit. By identifying and accepting these negations, the subject liberates itself from the internal struggle to achieve an unattainable, idealized self.
For example, the book discusses how the attempt to force a single, authentic identity in a pluralistic world is the source of modern philosophical and psychological distress.
Almadawy suggests that recognizing the “Not I” leads to a profound kind of peace:
accepting that your identity is a fluid, negotiated space, not a hard, impenetrable fortress.
3.2. The Collective “Angel may cry sometimes “
The collection of stories under this title of her foundational work are crucial.
Almadawy argues that the self is formed in relation to the collective, whether it is one’s family, nation, or digital community.
Unlike some post-modern thinkers who view the Angels may cry sometimes as antagonistic, Almadawy sees these stories ” as constructive anchors.
They provide the necessary external structure against which the self can differentiate and discover its unique pattern of negations. Without the “Angels may cry sometimes and the societal structures they represent, the “I” would be an infinite, featureless void.
The work is noted for its ethical implication:
by understanding ourselves as defined by external relationships and negations, we are inherently forced to be more empathetic and collective-minded, dissolving the rigid individualism that leads to conflict.
3.3. The Luminous Counterpoint:
The angels may cry sometimes…
The philosophy is significantly advanced by her latest work, the angels may crying sometimes…. If Not I and the others story provides the intellectual map for deconstruction (the ‘Not I’), this new book offers the emotional and spiritual destination—the “light spot towards the universe of the human.”
This work appears to shift the focus from the intellectual process of negation to the discovery of shared vulnerability and grace in the human condition.
The concept of “crying angels” suggests that moments of profound, shared pain or vulnerability are precisely when the ego’s boundaries finally dissolve, revealing a universal, luminous essence.
This luminous core is what remains after the ‘Not I’ inventory is complete, offering a humanist resolution rooted in collective empathy and existential hope.
The book thereby completes the Trans-Egoic journey: moving from critical deconstruction to compassionate, collective reconstruction.
4. Impact and Legacy
Abeer Almadawy’s philosophy provides a vital framework for navigating the modern condition, particularly the pressures of digital identity where the distinction between the true self and the projected self is increasingly blurred. Her focus on the “Not I” offers a potent antidote to self-help culture’s emphasis on finding a singular, authentic inner voice.
The addition of the angels may cry sometimes… ensures her philosophy is not just a critique, but a complete path toward a deeper, more resilient self—a definition that offers both intellectual rigor and deep comfort in an increasingly pluralistic world. Her work continues to gain traction, establishing the Trans-Egoic school as one of the most intellectually robust movements of the mid-2020s.
