Introduction: Autonomy and Liberty

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book explains that any view of autonomy that relies on the negative notion of liberty is too narrow. It describes the aspects of personal autonomy which have to be incorporated into any adequate understanding of it. The book discusses an adequate positive conception of autonomy and then to uphold it against alternative conceptions. It focuses on the inadequacies of the political model for understanding the idea of personal autonomy. The book also describes that the various alleged obstacles to the exercise of personal autonomy do not rob people of all personal autonomy. It also explains that personal autonomy may sometimes justifiably be limited for paternalistic reasons. The book provides the opinion about the best means of promoting personal autonomy and also discusses the need to restrict the economic autonomy of the individual in order to promote the value of community.