Anarchism vs. Voluntarism — What's the Difference?

Anarchism is a political philosophy and movement that is sceptical of authority and rejects all involuntary, coercive forms of hierarchy. Anarchism calls for the abolition of the state, which it holds to be undesirable, unnecessary, and harmful.

The use of or reliance on voluntary action to maintain an institution, carry out a policy, or achieve an end.

The theory or doctrine that all forms of government are oppressive and undesirable and should be abolished.

A theory or doctrine that regards the will as the fundamental principle of the individual or of the universe.

Active resistance and terrorism against the state, as used by some anarchists.

(US) A reliance on volunteers to support an institution or achieve an end; volunteerism.

Rejection of all forms of coercive control and authority

(philosophy) A doctrine that assigns the most dominant position to the will rather than the intellect.

A political and philosophical belief that all forms of involuntary rule or government are undesirable, unnecessary, or unethical, and as such that society would function without a state.

(politics) The political theory that a community is best organized by the voluntary cooperation of individuals, rather than by a government, which is regarded as being coercive by nature.

A belief that proposes the abolition of hierarchy and authority in most forms.

Any theory which conceives will to be the dominant factor in experience or in the constitution of the world; - contrasted with intellectualism. Schopenhauer and Fichte are typical exponents of the two types of metaphysical voluntarism, Schopenhauer teaching that the evolution of the universe is the activity of a blind and irrational will, Fichte holding that the intelligent activity of the ego is the fundamental fact of reality.

The doctrine or practice of anarchists.

The principle or practice of depending on volunteers to support institutions or perform some desired action.

A political theory favoring the abolition of governments

A political philosophy opposed to dependence on governmental action or support for social services that might be performed by private groups.