Voluntarism (philosophy)

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This article is about the metaphysical philosophy. For other uses, see Voluntarism (disambiguation).

Voluntarism is "any metaphysical or psychological system that assigns to the will (Latin: voluntas) a more predominant role than that attributed to the intellect",[1] or equivalently "the doctrine that will is the basic factor, both in the universe and in human conduct".[2] Voluntarism has appeared at various points throughout the history of philosophy, seeing application in the areas of metaphysics, psychology, political philosophy and theology.

The term voluntarism was introduced by Ferdinand Tönnies into the philosophical literature and particularly used by Wilhelm Wundt and Friedrich Paulsen.

Theological voluntarism

Medieval theological voluntarism

Associated with

theological voluntarism) is generally taken to be the philosophical emphasis on the divine will and human freedom over and above the intellect (voluntas superior intellectu). For example, Scotus held that morality comes from God's will and choice rather than his intellect or knowledge. Accordingly, God should be defined as an omnipotent being whose actions should not and cannot be ultimately rationalized and explained through reason. As such, voluntarism is usually contrasted with intellectualism, championed by the scholastic Thomas Aquinas.[4]

Theological voluntarism as an approach to natural philosophy

Theological voluntarism also refers to theological commitments—that is, specific interpretations of doctrines of Christianity—arguably held by certain early modern natural philosophers such as

Michael B. Foster).[6] A 20th-century theologian of voluntarism was James Luther Adams
.

Metaphysical voluntarism

A proponent of metaphysical voluntarism is 19th-century German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer.[1] In his view, the will is not reasoning, but an irrational, unconscious urge in relation to which the intellect represents a secondary phenomenon. The will is actually the force at the core of all reality. This putting out of the drive–intention–vital dynamics later influenced Friedrich Nietzsche (will to power), Philipp Mainländer (will to die), Eduard von Hartmann, Julius Bahnsen and Sigmund Freud (will to pleasure).

Epistemological voluntarism

In

reflection principle. See also: Doxastic voluntarism
.

Political voluntarism

Political voluntarism, or

German idealist tradition understands political authority as emanating from a will.[8]

Marxist context

In

Machism) and a political commitment to extreme revolutionary tactics, particularly associated with Alexander Bogdanov.[9]

The Soviet Union promoted

shock work during the First Five-Year Plan period in an effort to increase productivity through human effort in the absence of more developed machinery.[10]
: 57 

The Cuban Revolutionary Offensive sought to encourage voluntary labor in the countryside both to accelerate development of the socialist economy and to encourage the development of the socialist New Man ethos.[11]: 37–38 

Critical voluntarism

Marburg School
).

See also

Notes and references

  1. ^
    Britannica.com
  2. ISBN 0-671-69500-2
    .
  3. ^ Walker, L. (1912). "Voluntarism". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Retrieved September 27, 2019 – via New Advent.
  4. ^ "Voluntarism". Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
  5. ^ Harrison, Peter. The Fall of Man and the Foundations of Science. Cambridge University Press. p. 220. There has been considerable discussion in the secondary literature about the impact of Boyle's theological voluntatism on his approach to natural philosophy.
  6. ISBN 1-4020-1969-6 – via Google Books
    .
  7. S2CID 149788977
    .
  8. ^ Christopher W. Morris, "The Very Idea of Popular Sovereignty: “We the People” Reconsidered", Social Philosophy and Policy 17 (1):1 (2000).
  9. ^ Paul LeBlanc. Lenin and the Revolutionary Party.
  10. ISBN 9780231206273
    .
  11. ISBN 978-0-520-39313-4
    .
  12. ^ Peter Janich, Protophysics of Time: Constructive Foundation and History of Time Measurement, Springer, 2012.

External links

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