Autonomy And Self Respect Essay

The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy defines autonomy as an individual’s capacity for self-determination or self-governance (Iep.utm.edu, 2015). Autonomy could either be moral, personal or political. Self-respect, simply put, is a feeling of pride or confidence in ones’ self; a sense of dignity and honor. Keeping the definitions above in mind, I will attempt to prove that respecting an individual’s right to self-respect and autonomy is both a moral right and morally significant.
We run into a philosophical problem when we ask the question: Is the attitude of individuals morally significant when dealing with autonomy and self-respect? The same philosophical problem applies to the question of whether or not Autonomy and self-respect are moral rights. These questions usually have one of two answers depending on what camp the answer comes from: Camp A (also known as Kantians) claim that it is morally right and morally significant to respect an individual’s right to self-respect and autonomy, while Camp B (also known as Utilitarians) claim that it is not necessarily a …show more content…
It is a fundamental human trait to respect the humanity or human nature of all other humans around us. I chose this position because of how much worth it put into an individual’s humanity. It is true that we should treat each other with respect and honor because doing so is what makes us human. Another core characteristic of the human species is individuality and uniqueness; we all possess distinct attributes both in and out (for example race, faith, culture, personality, gender, etc.). All these things make us human. If we cannot respect an individual’s right to autonomy, which as a result, adds value to their humanity, an argument can be made that we are disrespecting the fundamental human qualities of a person. This lack of respect is very morally significant because all humans deserve (and have) human rights; humans rights are a moral