Any doctrine holding that some thing or some aspect of reality is the creation of a voluntary choice or act of will. In ethics, voluntarism is the position that it is will or desire that creates values, a position akin to projectivism or expressivism. The theological position that all values are traits that become elevated through being chosen by God is also known by the name. Also in theology, voluntarism is a term for the fideistic position that it is legitimate to believe in things because it is legitimate to want to do so. This position is found in Pascal, Kierkegaard, and the pragmatist James. Finally, the term is applied to the embracing metaphysic of Schopenhauer that places a blind and all-powerful will at the basis of all nature.