Philosophical Perspectives on Autonomy in Self-Determination Theory

A holistic view of autonomy in self-determination theory (SDT) requires both psychological and philosophical scrutiny. This chapter discusses how SDT approaches autonomy and self-determination by explicating the nature of its psychological conception of the self. The chapter describes how this conception is congruent with phenomenological and analytical philosophical perspectives of autonomy. Although this congruence concerns mostly comprehensive views of personal autonomy that take into account both negative and positive freedom, SDT can equally be applied in the study of moral autonomy, through a holistic understanding of the self. It may thus offer a compatibilist psychological interpretation of the relationship between personal and moral autonomy, and even pave the way for a novel discussion of moral responsibility.