Kant's Theory Of Autonomy

In this world we are all our own person. We make decisions based on our needs and

wants primarily. This choice is demonstrating autonomy. Autonomy helps us as individuals

live a life that we choose for the most part. The outcomes we face are based off decisions we

choose. By giving us the right to be our own person helps us maintain some sort of social health

whether good or bad.

The generalized idea of autonomy developed by philosopher Immanuel Kant. According

to Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy “Kant further developed the idea of moral autonomy as

having authority over one’s actions. Rather than letting the principles by which we make

decisions be determined by our political leaders, pastors, or society, Kant called upon the will

to
determine its guiding principles for itself, thus connecting the idea of self-government to
morality; instead of being obedient to an externally imposed law or religious precept, one should
be obedient to one’s own self-imposed law.

The former he called heteronomy; the latter

autonomy” (Dryden, n.d,) But imagine a world without autonomy? Where we would have to say

and live a life that we had no choice over. That in general sounds horrific. Although, some

countries are just like that. Occasionally, I feel people take for granted the rights we have here in

the U.S.

There is not too much research I found on this topic. But I happened to stumble across an

article which I found very interesting. This statement the author made is something everyone

should live by “Choose your company wisely. Be relentless with surrounding yourself with those

who bring out the best in you. Your direction in life depends on it. And while you're at it, have

the courage to be a good friend to those who choose you”(Chan, 2011). Our life depends on who

we associate with. If one chooses to have friends who have been in and out of jail chances are

they may turn down that path. We only have one life to live, why waste it? I think that question

can only be answered on an individual level.

As individuals we are more powerful than I truly think we comprehend. Yes, I feel our

powerfulness and willpower comes from the people we surround ourselves with. To

be
successful in life you need to have willpower and motivation. Therefore, one would need to
surround themselves with people who have the same mindset. I know this from a previous
encounter with friend. My one ex friend is extremely lazy. She would wake up at 1:00pm
and never wanted to look for work or take care of herself. I moved in with her for a while (big
mistake). I was going through a lot and lost hope at one point. I went from constantly looking
for a job and being a straight A student, to nothing. I would sit home all day and do nothing. I
then failed my 1st college class. It was a disaster. But now looking back on everything I now
know why I became lazy and unwilling to do anything. Her way of living was rubbing off on me
and I was becoming like her. In a way I felt I was not in control of my life. Each day was a
nightmare as I started slipping into this improper way of living. It was so much easier to be lazy
and seeing her not being motivated made me lose my motivation.
Not everyone is going to bring the worse out in us. Some people actually can motivate
and make one feel a sense of empowerment. These people are the ones who look at life
differently than everyone else. My one friend went back to school and got an amazing job. By
seeing her be successful made me want to go back to school. I feel people can bring out the good
in someone by being good themselves. The positive people differ from the negative people by
the way they choose to live. Another thing that makes individuals different is the outlook they
have on life. You can have someone where nothing goes there way and be miserable 24/7. Or
you could have someone who when something goes wrong they pick themselves up. In this
world sadly we will encounter people who want to see us fail and ones who want us to succeed.
But trying to cope through the good and the bad is a challenging task in general.

My advice is to

keep positive individuals around you so the good vibes rub off.

Do you think you ever take away your own sense of autonomy? Yes. Actually, I feel at

some point in our life we take away our sense of autonomy. It can be either long term or short

term. I think it depends on the situation honestly. There are cases in life where it is better we give

up our rights to speak for ourselves etc. An example of this may be when someone has a court

case. We give permission to the lawyer to speak on behalf of us and to make decisions for us. I

am sure there are times when it may be beneficial to take a back seat and not speak up. But I do

not feel we give up our sense of autonomy on purpose. Autonomy and romantic relationships can

be another paper in itself. When it comes to romantic relationships we trust the other individual.

Therefore, they get to have inputs on what activities or events etc we may attend or do for

example. When it comes to long term or life decisions such as purchasing houses, cars, paying

bills etc. I feel this only applies to married couples though. For when two individuals

get
married they become one. So each decision being made is no longer affecting an individual
person it is affecting the couple as a whole.
Overall as individuals we need to protect ourselves. This world we live in has a lot of
cruel and justified things occurring. Things that you or I may never understand. That’s why it is
up to us to stand our own ground. Surround ourselves with positive people and make the best of
life. We learn from our mistakes and that is okay. One thing we do not learn is how to not make
the same mistake until it is too late.