Autonomy: Volume 20, Part 2

This volume examines autonomy and the role it plays in philosophy, as well as public policy.

Ellen Frankel Paul (Edited by), Fred D. Miller, Jr (Edited by), Jeffrey Paul (Edited by)

9780521534994, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 30 June 2003

360 pages
22.8 x 15.3 x 2 cm, 0.486 kg

'this book brings together an impressive array of academic expertise whose contributions cover historical, ethical, political and even psychological perspectives of the concept and its application.' The Philosophical Quarterly

A central idea in moral and political philosophy, 'autonomy' is generally understood as some form of self-governance or self-direction. Certain Stoics, modern philosophers such as Spinoza, and most importantly, Immanuel Kant, are among the great philosophers who have offered important insights on the concept. Some theorists analyze autonomy in terms of the self being moved by its higher-order desires. Others argue that autonomy must be understood in terms of acting from reason or from a sense of moral duty independent of the passions. Autonomy seems closely related to the notion of freedom, but in what sense: freedom from coercion, freedom from psychological constraints, or freedom from material necessity? Various approaches to these and similar questions yield different implications for public policy. Is capitalism, social democracy or socialism more favorable to autonomy? The essays in this volume address these important questions.

1. Stoic autonomy John M. Cooper
2. Autonomous autonomy: Spinoza on autonomy, perfectionism, and politics Douglas Den Uyl
3. Kant on the theory and practice of autonomy Paul Guyer
4. How much should we value autonomy? Marina Oshana
5. Autonomy, duress, and coercion James Stacey Taylor
6. Autonomy and hierarchy Michael E. Bratman
7. Reason and autonomy Keith Lehrer
8. Identification, the self, and autonomy Bernard Berofsky
9. Some tensions between autonomy and self-governance Jonathan Jacobs
10. Autonomy from the viewpoint of teleological behaviorism Howard Rachlin
11. The paradox of group autonomy Christopher Heath Wellman
12. Abortion, autonomy, and control over one's body John Martin Fischer
13. Freedom as a political ideal Steven Wall.

Subject Areas: Cognition & cognitive psychology [JMR], Social & political philosophy [HPS], Ethics & moral philosophy [HPQ]