heteronymous

Heteronymous is an adjective used to describe being governed by external authorities, norms, or constraints rather than by one’s own principles or decisions. It is closely related to the concept of heteronomy, which denotes a state in which actions or rules originate outside the individual. In ethical and philosophical contexts, heteronymous actions are those motivated or compelled by external factors such as fear of punishment, social approval, or legal requirements, rather than by autonomous moral reasoning.

Etymology and relation to related terms: the term derives from Greek roots meaning “other” (hetero-) and “law” or “norm” (nomos). It is often discussed in contrast to autonomy, which refers to self-imposed or self-generated-rule governance. The distinction is central in moral philosophy and developmental psychology, where autonomy is associated with self-legislation and principled reasoning, while heteronomy involves dependence on external dictates.

Philosophical and developmental usage: in Kantian ethics, autonomy is the ideal of acting according to one’s own rational laws, whereas heteronomy describes acting under external influence. In developmental psychology, theories of moral development describe a progression from heteronomous morality, where rules are seen as fixed and externally imposed, to autonomous morality, where rules are understood as self-imposed or revisable through rational deliberation and moral reflection.

Other applications: the term can be used in sociology or organizational theory to describe individuals or groups that operate under external control, such as institutional, legal, or cultural authorities, rather than through self-determined norms. See also autonomy, heteronomy, Kantian ethics.