Human autonomy, the capacity to form one’s own judgments and act on them has been a key concern of philosophical traditions across eras. Classical thinkers like Aristotle and the Stoics framed autonomy in terms of rational self governance, while modern philosophers such as Kant and Mill linked it to moral law and individual liberty (Aristotle, 2009; Kant, 1785/1993; Mill, 1859). In recent decades, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has introduced complex challenges to autonomy by mediating decisions in everyday life through recommendation systems, adaptive interfaces, and automated decision tools (Floridi, 2014; Pariser, 2011). This paper critically examines how autonomy has been understood historically and how these conceptions apply to contemporary AI technologies. Drawing on qualitative analysis of philosophical texts and AI ethics literature, this study argues that autonomy is not simply the absence of external constraints but involves critical reflection, intentional action, and responsibility. Increasing reliance on AI can undermine these capacities if systems are designed without ethical safeguards. Yet if developed with transparency, accountability, and human oversight, AI can enhance autonomy by informing human choices without displacing human judgment. The study highlights the importance of leveraging philosophical insights to design AI systems that respect and preserve human autonomy in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.
Ali et al. (Sat,) studied this question.