The condition of being subject to external laws or authorities rather than self-imposed rational principles. In Kant's ethics, the opposite of autonomy and a source of moral corruption.
From Greek 'heteros' (other, different) and 'nomos' (law, rule). Kant coined this term to contrast with autonomy, emphasizing the importance of self-legislation in moral matters.
Heteronomy is like being a moral puppet—letting others pull your strings instead of thinking for yourself about right and wrong. Kant worried that following external authorities, even good ones, corrupts our moral agency because we're not using our own reason.
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