voluntarismo

Voluntarism is a term used in philosophy, theology, and political theory to describe doctrines that give central importance to the will as the determining or organizing principle of reality, knowledge, or ethics. The exact meaning varies by tradition, but common threads include an emphasis on will or volition as a primary source of value, command, or agency, rather than only reason, nature, or fixed norms.

In philosophy, voluntarism often denotes views that ground truth, obligation, or meaning in the act or power of the will. This can involve the idea that moral values are grounded in divine or volitional decree, or that human freedom and responsibility are anchored in the capacity to will. In medieval and early modern thought, voluntarist tendencies appeared in debates about the primacy of the will versus the intellect or nature as the basis for knowledge and ethics, with the will sometimes framed as the ultimate cause of ethical or metaphysical order.

In theology, voluntarism typically refers to the claim that the will of God is the ultimate basis for what exists and what ought to be. This often entails a strong emphasis on divine sovereignty and freedom, and it engages with questions about moral obligation, providence, and the scope of divine command.

In political theory, voluntaryism or voluntarist liberalism argues that social order should arise from voluntary cooperation, contract, and non-coercive associations rather than coercive state authority. Proponents stress non-aggression, property rights, and voluntary exchange, while critics worry about ensuring public goods and addressing coercive power structures.

The term derives from Latin voluntas, meaning will or volition.