Self-ownership is the condition where a society recognizes individuals' right to control their "selves" without interference by others. This notion is central to individualistic political philosophies such as libertarianism. However, even if one generally accepts the value of self-ownership, the implications are not always clear. Debate can revolve around the issues of how self-ownership impacts our relation to natural resources, or around the issue of the extent of the "self," particularly when the border between two individuals is not clear. The issue of "ownership" in the context of self-ownership is also questionable. For example, if by self-ownership it is implied that a person's right over him/herself is a form of property, this may be used as a justification for allowing people in desperate situations to sell themselves into slavery.

The trouble of defning the border of the self can be seen in the debate surrounding the morality and legality of abortion, where the right of the woman to control her own body can be in opposition to the fetus' right to live. This contrast is even more pronounced in situations where women are forced to undergo surgery in order to deliver a healthy baby. Defining the borders of the self can also be difficult if one accepts the notion that the self includes objects that are external to the human body, as is proposed in Andy Clark's essay, Natural Born Cyborgs.

The notion of self-ownership is not strictly adhered to in any society or legal system, but can be seen as a general guideline that is only violated in special circumstances. The Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution is sometimes viewed as an implementation of the concept of self-ownership, as are some portions of the Bill of Rights.