A difficult concept for 99% of humanity to comprehend?
The word autonomy comes from the Greek roots:
1. “autos” (αὐτός) meaning “self.”
2. “nomos” (νόμος) meaning “law” or “rule.”
The term autonomos (αὐτόνομος) originally referred to something or someone “having its own laws” or “self-governing.”
It first entered English in the early 17th century, used in contexts related to political self-governance. Over time, its meaning expanded to include personal independence and the ability of individuals or entities to make decisions for themselves.
Thus, autonomy fundamentally means “self-rule” or “self-governance.”