Philosophy 101, #13: What is Autonomy?
In my previous two posts, I discussed Hegel's Sittlichkeit thesis and explained why freedom and autonomy are practically impossible within Hegel's ideal kingdom.
In this post, I'd like to explain shortly what autonomy means to me and how it is expressed.
The autonomous person
The autonomous person, I believe, is able to detach himself from customs and to impose unto himself his own moral rules. In other words, he is able to become a self-determinate atom that does not necessarily have to find his freedom through the recognition by an other. All that suffices for his autonomy is his personal recognition of himself as an individual who can and who must invent himself.
Unfortunately, the individual who is also the source of self-invention, is continually threatened in a world that imposes codified customs in the form of communal laws. Nonetheless, he reflects on the position that society has molded for him, rejects it, and consciously chooses which moral shape he will take. Doing so, he creates his own place in society.
1. Free association and the power to choose as an expression of Autonomy
Like Hegel, one may argue that communities like the civil society and its market place are essential for individuals to be recognized and to thrive beyond basic necessities, and that this is freedom. Nevertheless, I would like to stress the importance of choice for self-invention and voluntary association. Individuals should be free to voluntarily accept society and its laws; free to accept and reject duties towards the state or his fellow men. The individual manifests his autonomy in his choices. Therefore, the power to choose is the ultimate source of autonomy.
In Sittlichkeit, the individual is presupposed to be in unity with the family, civil society, and the state. All these social entities restrict his choice to dissociate himself from his communes.
2. The making of promises as an expression of Autonomy
The autonomous individual has a proud consciousness of power and freedom. He, as the lord of his free will, feels competent enough that he can control his own fate that he will bind himself to promises he makes to himself and to others. In other words, the autonomous individual has this grand potential of becoming a reliable person.
Friedrich Nietzsche writes of this autonomous individual that he,
The 'free' man, the owner of a long unbreakable will, finds in this possession his standard of value: looking out from himself upon the others, he honours or he despises, and just as necessarily as he honours his peers, the strong and the reliable... so with equal necessity will he have the heel of his foot ready for the lean and empty jackasses, who promise when they have no business to do so.
Conclusion
Autonomy is intricately linked to freedom and self-invention. It manifests itself in a strong desire to be in control of fate, in the ability of free association and choice, and in the power to become reliable persons.
References
Lim, C.L. (2017). Philosophy 101, #11: Freedom and Autonomy in Hegel’s Philosophy of Rights: https://steemit.com/philosophy/@chhaylin/philosophy-101-11-freedom-and-autonomy-in-hegel-s-philosophy-of-rights
Lim, C.L. (2017). Philosophy 101, #12: Can we achieve Freedom and Autonomy in Hegel's ideal Kingdom? https://steemit.com/philosophy/@chhaylin/philosophy-101-12-can-we-achieve-freedom-and-autonomy-in-hegel-s-ideal-kingdom
Nietzsche, F.W. (1886). Beyond Good and Evil: prelude to a philosophy of the future.
Paradoxically, Freedom comes with high responsibility, and I agree that a truly autonomous person has the duty to respect his promises, and therefore become reliable to others. Great post!
Yes, and this responsibility binds him. :)
Nice article
Thank you, Lem!
Awesome post, dude! I would describe myself as an anarcho-daoist too, but I've never heard anyone put it like that. Looking forward to reading more!
Hi thanks man! There aren't many (a handful I know so far) that call themselves Anarcho-daoists. Nice to meet you :)
Nice to meet you too. Learning about Daoism had a big impact on my spiritual and political views. The biggest lessons to me were that there is no higher law than Nature, we are happiest and healthiest and most powerful when in sync with Nature, and that Truth cannot be expressed in words and all interpretations will fail to communicate it, so no one should have authority over the lives, souls, spirits of others. I even have 道可道﹐非常道 tattooed on my back. I think you would be interested in my introductory post where I talk about my own form of anarchic spirituality. Please check it out and have a great day! https://steemit.com/introduceyourself/@daodesam/daodesam-introduction-2017719t225340797z
great info
Thanks, money pimp!
I consider myself an autonomous person, but... life and the code of laws dictate other rules.Thanks for the great post!
Thank you very much :)
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STOPHello @chhaylin.
Very interesting read.
It reminded me a little of "How I Found Freedom in an Unfree World", by Harry Browne.
I have to confess to not having read the entire book but the the author talks about the self imposed traps we tie ourselves down with.
The opening sentence of the Prologue is:
That sounds a lot like your description of autonomy.
There are .pdf versions readily accessible online.
An extreme level of content on Autonomy found here for thesis research for students who are gaining their confidence on writing an assignment by their own. And we are always happy to help them if they need assignment editing service from the experts who can review and edit at their best.