1. Personal Autonomy and Moral Agency
Chapter 3
Burnor & Raley

2. Autonomy
In making choices, individuals are self determining autonomous agents
Morally responsible for choices
Those that lack autonomy not normally responsible for choices
Consider the following examples:
See p

3. Personal autonomy To be autonomous 4 conditions must be satisfied
Independence condition: capacity to make choices without external constraint or inner compulsion
ex: hypnosis, threat (external constraints), obsessive/compulsive behaviors, addictions(internal)
Competency condition: Capacity necessary to rationally deliberate upon choices.
Understand facts, consequences, relevant values, rationally supported conclusions (ex. P. 48)
Authenticity condition: capacity to discern and evaluate values, goals, commitments.

4. Other issues with autonomy
But, what about those who temporarily lose autonomy?
Lack moral capacity
(Alzheimer's patients, children..etc.)
Autonomy in certain situations not others.
Ex: fear of heights
Oppressive social structures
Ex: poor, ethnic groups, religious groups, immigrants

5. Implications for Autonomy
Anyone with autonomy has moral responsibility
Persons with inner compulsions or external constraints have little or no moral responsibility.
Persons choices must be respected without interference (moral deference)
People lacking capacity not owed moral deference
Sometimes person’s choices are overruled for their own good (paternalism)

6. Moral Agents
Moral agent-An autonomous person exercising their capacity to make moral choices
Different levels of agency depending on capacity
Independent choice: exercise capacity to choose without constraint or compulsion
Competent choice: make an independent choice and exercise capability to engage in rational deliberation
Authentic choice: make a choice that is both independent and competent, and be abele to authentically assess his/her values.
Note: End at p.56.