Concept
Autonomy
Overview
In developmental psychology and moral, political, bioethical philosophy, autonomy is the capacity to make an informed, uncoerced decision. Autonomous organizations or institutions are independent or self-governing. Autonomy can also be defined from a human resources perspective, where it denotes a (relatively high) level of discretion granted to an employee in their work. In such cases, autonomy is known to generally increase job satisfaction. Self-actualized individuals are thought to operate autonomously of external expectations. In a medical context, respect for a patient's personal autonomy is considered one of many fundamental ethical principles in medicine.
Overview adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0; see the article history for authors).
Possible passages
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Morality, then, is the relation of actions to the relation of actions will, that is, to the autonomy of potential universal legislation by its maxims. An action that is consistent with the autonomy of the will is permitted; one that does not agree therewith is forbidden. A will whose maxims necessarily coincide with the laws of autonomy is a holy will, good absolutely. The dependence of a will not absolutely good on…
Immanuel Kant, Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysic of Morals
Names Autonomy several times; states what Autonomy is.
On this origin are founded many expressions which designate the worth of objects according to moral ideas. The moral law is holy (inviolable). Man is indeed unholy enough, but he must regard humanity in his own person as holy.
Immanuel Kant, The Critique of Practical Reason
The author is tied to Autonomy in the knowledge graph; names Autonomy twice.
Thus a religion cannot be reduced to one single cult generally, but father consists in a system of cults, each endowed with a certain autonomy. Also, this autonomy is variable. Sometimes they are arranged in a hierarchy, and subordinated to some predominating cult, into which they are finally absorbed; but sometimes, also, they are merely rearranged and united.
Émile Durkheim, The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life
States what Autonomy is; names Autonomy twice.
Philosophers who discussed Autonomy
- Karl Marx
- Thomas Sowell
- Maimonides
- Max Horkheimer
- Joseph Raz
- Theodor W. Adorno
- Martha Nussbaum
- Michael Oakeshott
- Cornelius Castoriadis
- Robert Audi
- David Hume
- Carlo Cattaneo
- Robert Paul Wolff
- Johannes Althusius
- Cristina Bicchieri
- Frithjof Bergmann
- Camillo Berneri
Related ideas
- Eastern Orthodox Church
- Friedrich Nietzsche
- Pierre Bourdieu
- Greece
- Hungary
- Holy See
- Philosophy
- Immanuel Kant
- Mount Athos
- Jean-Paul Sartre
- Separation of church and state
- Authority
- Law
- Medicine
- Bioethics
- Great Depression
- Categorical imperative
- Linguistics
- Politics
- Motivation
- Medical ethics
- Science
- Social psychology
- Sovereignty
Opposing perspectives
Place in the tradition
Part of Anarchism.