autonomy
Freedom to choose
Autonomy is the capacity to govern oneself—to make decisions and act according to one's own judgment rather than external control.
Nations seek political autonomy from colonial powers.
Individuals value personal autonomy in medical decisions: The patient has autonomy over her treatment.
In philosophy, autonomy is central to moral agency—the ability to choose freely makes ethical responsibility possible.
Autonomous vehicles and systems operate without human intervention.
Freedom from external control
- libertyAbsence of unjust constraint
- self-governanceIndependent management of affairs
- emancipationRelease from legal bondage
- liberationRelease from constraint
free will · noninterference · self-rule · deregulation · nonintervention · latitude · license · permissiveness
Voluntary agreement given
- bodily integrityControl over one's form
- personhoodStatus as a person
- inviolabilityProtected from transgression
- reproductive rightsBodily autonomy in family planning
medical consent · informed consent · self-ownership · right to refuse · patient rights
Control over one's fate
- initiativeSelf-directed action capacity
- decision-makingProcess of choosing actions
- volitionCapacity for choice
- controlAuthority to direct
self-direction · self-management · competence · capability · responsibility · discretion · assertiveness · proactivity
Supreme independent authority
- self-governmentRuling oneself independently
- statehoodCondition of being sovereign
- nationhoodStatus as independent country
- home ruleDelegated local autonomy
decentralization · localism · federalism · republic · jurisdiction · governance · confederation · commonwealth
Individual identity, personhood
- self-identityOne's sense of oneself
- self-expressionConveying one's inner world
- uniquenessQuality of being singular
- individualismDoctrine of personal independence
nonconformity · distinctiveness · independence · originality · character · personality · authenticity · unconventionality
Settled course of action
- optionAvailable course of action
- preferenceFavored choice among alternatives
- selectionChosen item or items
- alternativeAnother available choice
volition · will · deliberation · discernment · evaluation · judgment · determination · election
independence
Freedom from external control
- libertyAbsence of unjust constraint
- self-governanceIndependent management of affairs
- emancipationRelease from legal bondage
liberation · free will · noninterference · self-rule · deregulation · nonintervention · latitude · license · permissiveness · laissez-faire
consent
Voluntary agreement given
- bodily integrityControl over one's form
- personhoodStatus as a person
- inviolabilityProtected from transgression
reproductive rights · medical consent · informed consent · self-ownership · right to refuse · patient rights
self-determination
Control over one's fate
- initiativeSelf-directed action capacity
- decision-makingProcess of choosing actions
- volitionCapacity for choice
control · self-direction · self-management · competence · capability · responsibility · discretion · assertiveness · proactivity · self-efficacy
sovereignty
Supreme independent authority
- self-governmentRuling oneself independently
- statehoodCondition of being sovereign
- nationhoodStatus as independent country
home rule · decentralization · localism · federalism · republic · jurisdiction · governance · confederation · commonwealth · devolution
selfhood
Individual identity, personhood
- self-identityOne's sense of oneself
- self-expressionConveying one's inner world
- uniquenessQuality of being singular
individualism · nonconformity · distinctiveness · independence · originality · character · personality · authenticity · unconventionality · self-definition
decision
Settled course of action
- optionAvailable course of action
- preferenceFavored choice among alternatives
- selectionChosen item or items
alternative · volition · will · deliberation · discernment · evaluation · judgment · determination · election · consideration
- Auto- wordsautomobile, autocorrect, autobiography, autograph, autopsy
- creative controlfinal cut, creative vision, director's cut, editorial control, artistic license
- Kurdish PoliticsKurds, Kurdistan, regional government, self-rule, statehood
- freedomfreedom of choice, freedom of will, free will, expression, speech
- human conceptsconsciousness, awareness, identity, self, emotion
- independencefreedom, liberty, Independence Day, sovereignty, self-reliance
autonomysubjection
State of being controlled
subjugation · control · domination · subordination · paternalism
autonomydependence
State of needing another
dependency · dependance · reliance · interdependence · codependence
autonomycaptivity
State of being confined
unfreedom · enslavement · imprisonment · bondage · incarceration
- autonomous vehiclesMotor transport needing no human
- bodily autonomyControl over one's physique
- personal autonomyControl over one's choices
- body autonomyControl over one's physicality
- autonomous drivingVehicle operates independently
- autonomous droneAircraft operating without human control