Voluntarism (lat.: voluntas: wanting, the will, the disire; also: arbitrariness) is the school of thought, which regards the will to the difference of the intellectualism (as contrast) and emotionalism as basic facts of the realization (i.e. as epistemological voluntarism) or as a nature, cause of the world-whole (metaphysical voluntarism of Arthur Schopenhauer) and attributes a thinking and feeling to the will (psychological voluntarism).

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

Metaphysical Voluntarism

General agent of the metaphysical voluntarism is Arthur Schopenhauer. The will is not reasonable in its core for him, but more irrationally, useless dark, driveful urge, in relation to which the intellect represents a secondary phenomenon. The will is actually the thing, core and nature of all reality.

This putting out of the drive-detention-vital dynamics has influenced Friedrich Nietzsche (as will to power), Eduard von Hartmann, Sigmund Freud and the philosophy of life.

Realization and Science Theory

In another context the realization and science theory of Hugo Dingler, which starts with the unavoidable will act (as "I-Here-Now"). The methodical constructionalism of the school of Erlangen and the methodical culturalism of Marburg is to be seen subsequently.