In Defense of Autonomy: An Ethic of Care
Autonomy is often critiqued as egotistical. Critics call it the solipsistic justification of individualism: relying on one man standing alone. The autonomous individual is thought to be his own moral judge, without heed to the outside world or the needs of others. This article defends autonomy against that critique. Properly understood, autonomy entails a mutuality of obligation. It requires care. As I shall argue, autonomy is a norm of civility.
The analysis relies on the development of Kantian concepts. Kantian autonomy is the capacity of a rational being to make universal laws. The existence of others is at the heart of the concept. Much more than knowledge of others’ existence is at stake. Kantian autonomy is based on the rational being’s capacity to legislate her maxims according to action that would be rational for others to perform. The autonomous being must definerational action according to universal laws.
The autonomous self must act, rationally, in a way that considers others on two levels: both considering how they themselves would reason in their actions (as rational beings), and also how that action treats others. The categorical imperative, a central concept in Kantian philosophy, requires one to act in a manner that respects other individuals’ existences as ends in themselves, rather than merely as means to an end. A familiar concept similar to the categorical imperative is the adage: ”do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
