Liberation from Self: A Theory of Personal Autonomy

This is the most detailed, sophisticated and comprehensive treatment of autonomy currently available. Moreover it argues for a quite different conception of autonomy from that found in the philosophical literature. Professor Berofsky claims that the idea of autonomy originating in the self is a seductive but ultimately illusory one. The only serious way of approaching the subject is to pay due attention to psychology, and to view autonomy as the liberation from the disabling effects of physiological and psychological afflictions. A sustained critique of concepts such as moral autonomy, self-realisation, ideal autonomy, and identification is offered. The author replaces these with an alternative model that reveals how spontaneity, vitality and competence enable human beings to act in the real world.

Table of Contents:
1. Introduction; 2. Freedom and autonomy; 3. Freedom of action; 4. Agent freedom; 5. Values and the self; 6. Autonomy and rationality; 7. Rationality, values and integrity; 8. The liberation theory of autonomy: objectivity; 9. The liberation theory of autonomy: the place of self; 10. The value of autonomy; Notes; Bibliography; Index.

Review :
"Readers will find Berofsky's discussion of identification and ownership of mental states most interesting. These suggestions of Berofsky are both interesting and important, and should repay study by both philosophers interested in moral psychology and those interested in identity and self." Christian Perring, Dowling College, The Journal of Mind and Behavior "This is a rich, thoughtful, powerful piece of conceptual analysis that will appeal especially to compatibilist-minded philosophers. Berfosy's erudition is broad and deep, and his commentary on other philosophers is always illuminating. Anyone interested in the philosophical literature concerning autonomy and related moral concepts should read this book." --Mind "...[a] rich notion of autonomy--one that will serve as the basis of discussions for years to come. Informative footnotes; helpful bibliography and index." Choice "Berofsky's book makes a definite contribution to the literature on autonomy." Gerald Dworkin, Jrnl of Philosophy "Berofsky's work is an important addition to this literature. It offers a provocative new theory of autonomy while critically discussing much of the extant literature and challenging many common assumptions. It is a book that no one interested in the topic of autonomy can afford to ignore...this book is an impressive addition to the growing literature on autonomy. It is packed with imaginative examples and arguments that challenge all existing views, and it presents an original conception of autonomy that must be taken into account by anyone who writes on the subject in future." Robert Kane, The Philosophical Review