Article
How to Distinguish Autonomy from Integrity
Canadian Journal of Philosophy
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
3-1-2005
Disciplines
Abstract
The article aims to distinguish autonomy from integrity. Unlike integrity, autonomy is mostly a philosophical term of art, one that philosophers use in a myriad of ways: that is, to refer to demonstrating an ability to govern oneself, to acting rationally, to having certain rights, to choosing freely, etc. Autonomy represents a phenomenon with which people do have some experience and on which they could comment in a pre-theoretical way. One might say that while self-governance involves acting on one's desires even if they conflict with what is right, integrity involves avoiding temptation to do anything other than what is right; people with integrity have an uncorrupted character, which is untrue of people with autonomy.
Citation Information
Carolyn McLeod. "How to Distinguish Autonomy from Integrity" Canadian Journal of Philosophy Vol. 35 Iss. 1 (2005) p. 107 - 134 Available at: http://works.bepress.com/carolyn-mcleod/21/