Freedom, Autonomy, Responsibility, and Ethics

Freedom as Autonomy

Freedom is autonomy:

1. Freedom of Choice

Our will is determined by our previous way of being, not arbitrary. Indifference to two equally attractive things is not enough, because then the choices would be irrational and arbitrary. Deliberation after the selection is a good reason. Those who believe in economic rationality think that humans always choose to minimize costs and maximize profits.

2. The Concept of Autonomy

Human beings can self-select our goals. Kant said that freedom is the moral law, or *the* law. There are two approaches:

• Natural-law: People view events from outside of their will.
• Human Will View: We are creating the law of freedom, as rational beings. Thanks to them, we organize our way of life and human coexistence.

3. Moral Maturity: From Regional Heteronomy

Moral heteronomy begins with moral maturity and ends with moral autonomy. There are three levels:

• Pre-conventional Level: Satisfying personal interests is considered fair.
• Conventional Level: A law that comes from one's own society is fair.
• Post-conventional Level: Separating the good of the individual from the rules of society, and identifying universal moral principles.

Carol Gilligan: It is essential to individual morality, as an adult, to give value to care in addition to the values of justice.

4. Responsibility

4.1. What is Responsibility?

Moral Responsibility: Responsibility is not like legal responsibility; moral conscience is a subjective phenomenon. This means that the subject feels responsible for their actions, and is not held accountable by any judge, only by the subject's own consciousness.

4.2. Responsibility in Today's World

Many of the current problems are global. Due to huge production and consumption, pollution is increasing, natural resources are depleting, and weapons of mass destruction pose a real risk to the planet, not just a fictional one.

4.2.1. The Principle of Responsibility

Progress is a false promise. Our responsibility extends to the consequences of our actions on future generations because we must allow them to live as we have lived.

4.2.2. Responsible Citizenship

Good citizens, therefore, do more than just use their natural rights, both morally and legally; they take responsibility for remaining tasks. The cosmopolitan citizenship model unites the problems of humanity.

4.2.3. Professional Responsibility

Professional ethics have been created to analyze the moral values and specific requirements of each profession.

Socrates and the Sophists

Socrates

• He did not charge for providing classes.
• He was Greek.
• He had political rights.
• He prioritized the search for truth over eloquence.

Sophists

• They charged for providing classes.
• They were foreigners.
• Foreigners' political rights were not important to them in Greece.
• They prioritized eloquence over the importance of truth.

What is the irony of dialogue? To not know, and to ask others.

What is Maieutics dialogue? Helping others approach truth through questions.