The Metaphysics of Autonomy: The Reconciliation of Ancient and Modern Ideals of the Person

by M. Coeckelbergh

Overview

If we want to be autonomous, what do we want? The author shows that contemporary value-neutral and metaphysically economical conceptions of autonomy, such as that of Harry Frankfurt, face a serious problem. Drawing on Plato, Augustine, and Kant, this book provides a sketch of how 'ancient' and 'modern' can be reconciled to solve it. But at what expense? It turns out that the dominant modern ideal of autonomy cannot do without a costly metaphysics if it is to be coherent.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781403939388
Publisher:	Palgrave Macmillan UK
Publication date:	07/28/2004
Edition description:	2004
Pages:	222
Product dimensions:	5.51(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.03(d)

About the Author

Mark Coeckelbergh is a lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Maastricht.

Table of Contents

Preface PART I The Modern Ideal of Autonomy Ancient Ideals of the Person: Plato and Augustine Problems with the Modern Ideal: The Need for Extension Using Plato and Augustine to Fill the Gap PART II Sartrean Existentialism: Extreme Freedom and Groundless Choice Frankfurt Hill's Idea of Autonomy The Ideal of the Person in Kant's Groundwork Bibliography Notes

Editorial Reviews

'The author has a mastery of the literature on moral and political autonomy... [he has] made an interesting and original contribution to what is a vital contemporary debate.' - Professor Timothy O'Hagan, University of East Anglia

From the Publisher