Abstract

The paper focuses on Bonhoeffer’s conception of moral autonomy. The first part sheds light into Bonhoeffer’s critique of philosophical ethics, in general, and, in particular, of Kantian ethics. The second part presents a conception of autonomy which is no longer based on the transcendental subject, but on the adherence of the will to God’s revelation in Christ. This conception of autonomy has a formal side as well as a content side. From the formal point of view, autonomy implies conformation to the form of Christ. From the point of view of the content, autonomy is explained within the framework of the doctrine of mandates: man is autonomous when he fulfils the essence of his proper mandate