A 19th century circle of political philosophers in Germany, gathering for informal discussion over a period of a few years. Attendees included Max Stirner, Bruno Bauer, Arnold Ruge, Friedrick Engels , and Karl Marx, among others. As a cartoon by Engels shows, their small meetings were also attended by a "secret policeman", reporting on their activities to the authorities. The members of Die Freien held widely diverging views, and met for the purpose of debate; they did not represent a unified political or ideological outlook.