Definition of autonomy Autonomy

/ɔtɑˈnʌmi/ - [otanumee] - au•ton•o•my

We found 12 definitions of autonomy from 8 different sources.

What does autonomy mean?

Noun Plural: autonomies
autonomy - immunity from arbitrary exercise of authority: political independence
		liberty
		independency, independence the successful ending of the American Revolution; "they maintained close relations with England even after independence"
autonomy - personal independence
		self-direction, self-reliance, self-sufficiency
		independency, independence the successful ending of the American Revolution; "they maintained close relations with England even after independence"

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autonomy (Noun)
Self- government; freedom to act or function independently.
autonomy (Noun)
The capacity to make an informed, uncoerced decision.
autonomy (Noun)
The capacity of a system to make a decision about its actions without the involvement of another system or operator.

autonomy (n.)
The power or right of self-government; self-government, or political independence, of a city or a state.
autonomy (n.)
The sovereignty of reason in the sphere of morals; or man's power, as possessed of reason, to give law to himself. In this, according to Kant, consist the true nature and only possible proof of liberty.

autonomy
aw-ton′om-i, n. the power or right of self-government: (Kant's philos.) the doctrine that the human will carries its guiding principle within itself.—adjs. Auton′omous, Autonom′ic. [Gr.—autos, and nomos, law.]

autonomy
The power or right of self-government. This was a privilege jealously preserved in all the important cities of ancient Greece, nearly every one of which was an independent state. The right to make their own laws and elect their own magistrates was also granted by the Romans to some of their cities, and was regarded as a mark of honor.

Autonomy means freedom from external authority. Autonomy is a concept found in moral, political, and bioethical philosophy. Within these contexts it means the capacity of a rational individual to make an informed, free decision. In moral and political philosophy, autonomy is often used as the basis for determining moral responsibility for one's actions. One of best known philosophical theories of autonomy was developed by Kant. In medicine, respect for the autonomy of patients is considered obligatory for doctors and other health-care professionals. Politically, it is also used to refer to the self-governing of a people.