ABSTRACT
The slave is perhaps the clearest pre-theoretical example of a non-autonomous agent. As someone whose life is quite literally not her own, the slave would seem to be a paradigmatic example of an agent who fails to be self-governing. Insofar as autonomy is defined in terms of structural features of an agent's motivational attitudes, while remaining neutral on the content of those attitudes, proceduralist theories typically lack the resources to declare the slave non-autonomous simply in virtue of the fact that she is a slave. As slavery is actually practiced, it is clear that slaves lack local autonomy, especially with respect to self-realisation. Since the slave is controlled in every aspect of her life, her intentions will be routinely frustrated, as she is prevented from converting them into action. Like slavery, addiction is often taken as paradigmatic of compromised autonomy. The addict is seen as someone who is compelled to act against her own will.
