Autonomy generally means the capacity to make and act on one’s own choices independently, without undue external control or coercion. It can be discussed across several domains, including personal, moral, political, and organizational contexts. Here’s a concise breakdown:

• Personal autonomy: the right and ability to direct one’s own life, make decisions about one’s body and behavior, and reflect on values and priorities.
• Moral autonomy: the capacity to form and evaluate ethical judgments based on reason and personal reflection, rather than simply following others.
• Political autonomy: the right of a group or jurisdiction to self-govern and determine its own laws and policies.
• Organizational autonomy: the degree to which an entity (such as a department, team, or institution) can operate independently from centralized control.

Common nuances:

• Autonomy is not the same as independence in all contexts; it often involves internal alignment with one’s values, rather than mere self-sufficiency.
• Autonomy can coexist with social interdependence, provided individuals or groups retain meaningful self-governance and freedom of choice.
• Respect for autonomy is a foundational principle in fields like bioethics and medicine, emphasizing informed consent and freedom of choice.

If you’d like, I can tailor this explanation to a specific domain (e.g., psychology, ethics, or public policy) or provide examples and key thinkers associated with the concept.