ABSTRACT
Autonomy is of fundamental significance for the understanding of moral personhood. Under conditions of private enterprise, one individual's autonomous business activities may adversely affect another's business interests. The socialist believes that failure to regulate autonomy in the economic sphere will harmfully affect the autonomy of others. But there is widespread support for the idea that moral and legal justification exists for preventing individuals from autonomously consenting to serious harms such as amputations, physical or sexual abuse and so on. The discussion of the limits on other-regarding autonomous behaviour has taken account of harm and offence as effects produced by positive action. In view of the conflict that may arise between one individual's autonomy and that of others, the question must be decided as to the proper limits of each person's autonomy. Moreover, one individual's autonomous choices and actions may interfere with the exercise of a like autonomy by others.
