Home › Philosophy › Justice & Political Philosophy › autonomy

autonomy

aw-TON-uh-mee /ɔːˈtɒn.ə.mi/

nounC1GRESATTOEFL

GeneralAcademicMedical

The right or condition of self-government; individual freedom to act according to one's own moral choices.

In ethics, autonomy means self-legislation—making moral decisions independent of external coercion.

The story behind the word. Combines Greek 'autos' (self) and 'nomos' (law). Applied originally to Greek city-states governing themselves, Kant later turned it into a foundational concept of moral philosophy.

Word relationships

self-determination: Emphasizes the political process of deciding one's own fate, while 'autonomy' encompasses personal, moral, and political independence.
sovereignty: 'Sovereignty' implies supreme political ruling power, whereas 'autonomy' often denotes self-governance within a larger system.

heteronomy: Subjection to external law or authority (the exact Kantian opposite of autonomy).
dependence: Relying on external authority or control.

Commonly confused with

sovereignty: Autonomy is self-governance; sovereignty is supreme unchallengeable state power.

Word family

autonomous (adjective): Self-governing; independent.
autonomously (adverb): In an independent or self-governing manner.

Collocations

bodily autonomy
regional autonomy
grant autonomy
respect autonomy

Example sentences

"Immanuel Kant argued that moral duty stems from rational individual autonomy." Ethics
"The region demanded greater political autonomy from the central state government." Political Science

Memory hook

AUTO (self) + NOMY (law) = making laws for yourself. Self-governance and moral independence.

When not to use

Do not confuse with absolute isolation; an autonomous entity can engage in social contracts while retaining self-determination.

Fun facts

Kant coined the antonym 'heteronomy' (laws imposed from outside) to contrast with moral autonomy.