Voluntarisms

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The practices or philosophies emphasizing voluntary action or choice in social or political contexts
2. A theory or doctrine advocating for individual agency and voluntary participation in various systems
3. The principles that prioritize voluntary contributions and actions over coercive or mandatory methods in societal organization

Etymology: "Voluntarisms" is the plural of "voluntarism," a noun formed in English by adding the suffix "-ism" to "voluntary." The base word traces back through Middle English "voluntarie" to Latin "voluntarius," from "voluntas," meaning "will" or "free choice," which gives the whole family its core idea of acting from one's own will rather than under compulsion. The suffix does most of the work in the noun. "-ism" descends from Ancient Greek "-ismós," a marker of action, practice, or doctrine, which English adopted widely to name systems of belief and conduct. So "voluntarism" names a principle or practice of acting by free choice, and the plural form simply counts separate instances or varieties of that practice.