The Categories

For two thousand years, Aristotle's Categories has been the silent scaffold beneath Western thought — a deceptively short work that asks the most fundamental question: what kinds of things are there, and how do we name them? This is not an interpretation or a paraphrase. It is a faithful modern-English edition that renders Aristotle's original argument in clear, idiomatic prose without altering its logical structure. You will encounter the ten categories (substance, quantity, quality, relation, and the rest), the distinction between primary and secondary substance, and the analysis of opposites, priority, and motion. The language is free of Victorian flourishes and academic jargon, letting the ancient philosopher speak directly to today's reader. Whether you are new to philosophy or revisiting a touchstone, this edition is designed to be read, understood, and reflected upon. Part of The Modern Wisdom Library.