# XXXIV explained — Philosophical Works

> Chapter companion for Philosophical Works by René Descartes.

## What happens

Descartes explains that judgment requires both the understanding (to apprehend something) and the will (to assent to it), and that a perfect apprehension is not necessary for forming a judgment.

## Themes in this chapter

### Reason and Method

The chapter discusses the roles of understanding and will in the process of judgment, a key aspect of Descartes' method.

### Skepticism and Certainty

The chapter addresses how judgment can occur even with obscure and confused knowledge, touching on the limits of certainty.

## Character check-ins

### Narrator

The narrator presents the argument that both understanding and will are necessary for judgment.

## Key lines

> I admit that the understanding is necessary for judging, there being no room to suppose that we can judge of that which we in no way apprehend; but the will also is required in order to our assenting to what we have in any degree perceived.

Understanding is needed to grasp something before we can judge it, but the will is also needed to give our assent to what we perceive, even partially.

_Descartes distinguishes the roles of intellect and will in forming judgments._

> It is not necessary, however, at least to form any judgment whatever, that we have an entire and perfect apprehension of a thing; for we may assent to many things of which we have only a very obscure and confused knowledge.

We don't need complete and clear knowledge of something to judge it; we can agree to many things we only dimly and confusedly understand.

_Descartes notes that imperfect understanding still allows for judgment._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/philosophical_works_se/chapters/xxxiv
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/philosophical_works_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/philosophical_works_se/chapters