On The Concept Of Autonomy In Raz's The Morality Of Freedo

Autonomy is a core idea of liberal political morality and a value that liberals try to cultivate and protect.In order to respect and protect autonomy,the anti-perfectionism represented by Rawls advocates that the government should remain neutral among various conceptions of the good life.However,the perfectionism represented by Raz believes that the government has the responsibility and obligation to create valuable conditions and opportunities for the realization of personal autonomy.To demonstrate this point,Raz criticized anti-perfectionism in The Morality of Freedom,arguing that anti-perfectionism is neither possible nor credible,and that its rationality stems from the cherishing of autonomous values.So on the basis of criticizing the anti-perfectionism,Raz reinterpreted the conception of autonomy,he interprets autonomy as an ideal of personal autonomy and reconstructs the value of freedom based on this ideal of personal autonomy.But his theory of freedom based on such personal autonomy is different from previous theories of freedom.On the one hand,Raz believes that the value of autonomy can be realized only in the social form with various valuable ways of life.Therefore,he believes that protecting and sustaining the social form requires state action.On the other hand,Raz’s idea of personal autonomy is an ideal that stresses that people should create their own lives,and the realization of this ideal should have the corresponding conditions and opportunities,so he emphasizes the responsibility of the government to create conditions for autonomy and promote freedom.This shows that Raz’s principle of autonomy is a perfectionism principle,and Raz’s reinterpretation of personal autonomy pays more attention to positive freedom and the role of government in realizing autonomous life,which can theoretically avoid communitarian criticism.Raz’s personal autonomy has also been questioned and criticized by many.On the one hand,critics question the special importance Raz places on the value of individual autonomy;On the other hand,they question the necessity of state perfectionism to promote autonomous life.Through a thorough study of Raz’s argument in The Morality of Freedom and the opinions of others,we come to the conclusion that personal autonomy has both instrumental value and intrinsic value.The intrinsic value of personal autonomy does not conflict with the fact that personal autonomy is a necessary part of a good life.In addition,in order to become an autonomous person and realize an autonomous life,a mild,polycentric perfectionism is desirable,justified,and inevitable.Raz`s personal autonomy informs us,the realization of a good life not only needs the country or society to create some basic conditions and opportunities,but also for individuals to play their own subjective initiative and consciously choose and create valuable life instead of drifting with the tide.