voluntarism

1. The use of or reliance on voluntary action to maintain an institution, carry out a policy, or achieve an end.
2. A theory or doctrine that regards the will as the fundamental principle of the individual or of the universe.

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Generally a position seeing reason and intellect as subservient to the will: any position sympathizing with Hume's dictum that reason is and ought to be the slave of the passions. In ethics, voluntarism is the position that it is will or desire that creates values, although this is more commonly called projectivism or expressivism. The theological position that all values are traits that become elevated through being chosen by God is also known by the name. Also in theology, voluntarism is a term for the fideistic position that it is legitimate to believe in things because it is legitimate to want to do so. This position is found in Pascal, Kierkegaard, and the pragmatist James. Finally, the term is applied to the embracing metaphysic of Schopenhauer that places a blind and all-powerful will at the basis of all nature.

Voluntarism can refer to:

• Voluntarism (action), the use of or reliance on voluntary action to maintain an institution, carry out a policy, or achieve an end.
• Voluntarism (metaphysics), a philosophical term emphasising the primacy of the will.
• Voluntaryism, the philosophical position that the only legitimate interactions between and among people are those freely assented to by all parties concerned.

See also

• Volunteerism, the willingness of people to work on behalf of others without the expectation of pay or other tangible gain.

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