ˈväləntəˌrizəm noun
( -s )
Etymology: voluntary (I) + -ism
: the principle or system of supporting or doing something by voluntary action or of relying upon voluntary action
the essence of democracy is, of course, voluntarism as opposed to coercion — M.A.Tuve
as
a. : a theory that conceives will to be the dominant factor in experience or in the constitution of the world — compare fichteanism , intellectualism , schopenhauerism , scotism
b.
(1) : the principle of supporting a religious system and its institutions by voluntary association and effort rather than by state aid or patronage
(2) : insistence upon this principle as alone consistent with true religious freedom
c. : a principle calling for development of union labor relations with employers by free choice of the workers and without outside influence, assistance, or interference ; also : the principle of free collective bargaining without governmental imposition of terms
• vol·un·ta·rist -_rə̇st noun -s
• vol·un·ta·ris·tic | ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷|ristik, -stēk adjective