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The many faces of autonomy
1Department of Public Health and History of Science, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain. dgracia@fcs.es
Theoretical Medicine and Bioethics
|January 14, 2012
Summary
Autonomy has four meanings: political, metaphysical, legal, and a proper moral sense. True moral autonomy involves responsible, postconventional decision-making driven by duty, not external factors.
Area of Science:
- Philosophy
- Ethics
- Moral Philosophy
Background:
- Autonomy, a concept with diverse interpretations, has evolved through distinct historical meanings.
- Western thought has recognized political, metaphysical (Kantian), and legal definitions of autonomy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the concept of autonomy from a moral perspective.
- To identify and define a distinct moral meaning of autonomy.
- To establish the ultimate goal of ethics in fostering moral autonomy.
Main Methods:
- Historical analysis of the concept of autonomy.
- Philosophical inquiry into the nature of moral action.
- Examination of ethical theories and developmental psychology (Kohlberg, Riesman, Arendt).
Main Results:
- Identified four meanings of autonomy: political, metaphysical, legal, and a proposed moral meaning.
- The legal definition, common in bioethics, is distinguished from a true moral definition.
- Moral autonomy is characterized by postconventional, inner-directed, and responsible actions.
Conclusions:
- The proper moral meaning of autonomy is linked to acting from duty and intrinsic moral motivation.
- Ethics aims to cultivate individuals capable of autonomous and responsible decision-making.
- The Socratic method and ethics training are tools for promoting moral maturity.
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