autonomy
rights and responsibilities of the individual to come to their own judgements and decisions regarding fundamental aspects of how, what and why they believe and do as they do; in sharp distinction from 'heteronomy' wherein views are externally determined, eg by parents, teachers, peer pressure, or insitutional religion. Autonomy can be developed in an exclusively self-centred way. That that need not need not be; thus, whilst valuing the importance of encouraging people to think for themselves, some Christian critics caution that this should still take account of the needs and interests of others.
See also:
theonomy