Freedom and autonomy intertwined from "summary" of Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysic of Morals by Immanuel Kant
In the realm of moral philosophy, the notion of freedom and autonomy are inextricably intertwined. Freedom is the capacity for self-determination, the ability to act according to one's own will without external coercion. Autonomy, on the other hand, is the capacity to legislate one's own moral principles, to be the author of the laws that govern one's conduct. For Kant, freedom and autonomy are not only interconnected but also mutually dependent. One's freedom is only truly realized when one acts in accordance with the moral law, which is grounded in reason and universal in nature. In this sense, autonomy is the practical expression of freedom, the manifestation of one's rational will in action. Kant emphasizes that moral principles must be derived from reason alone, and not from any external authority or empirical data. This is because true autonomy requires that one's actions are guided by rational principles that are universally valid, applicable to all rational beings. Moreover, Kant argues that autonomy is the foundation of moral worth. An action is morally praiseworthy only when it is motivated by the agent's own rational will, when it is freely chosen in accordance with the moral law. Actions that are performed out of inclination or external coercion lack moral worth, as they do not express the agent's autonomy.- Kant's moral philosophy revolves around the inseparable relationship between freedom and autonomy. True freedom is realized through the exercise of autonomous rational will, through the adherence to moral principles that are derived from reason and applicable to all rational beings. Autonomy, then, is not only the key to moral worth but also the essence of human dignity and moral agency.
