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1. Of things which are not spoken according to connection, each of them signifies either: Substance (substantiam, οὐσία) Quantity (quantum, πόσος) Quality (quale, ποῖος) Relative (ad aliquid, προς τι) Where (ubi, ποῦ) When (quando, πότε) To be Situated (situm esse, κεῖσθαι) To Have (habere, ἔχειν) To Act (agere, ποιεῖν) To Suffer (pati, πάσχειν)
2. But a Substance is such as, man and horse. A Quantity is such as, a two-cubits-long thing or a three-cubits-long thing. A Quality is such as, a white thing, or a grammatical thing. A Relative is such as, a double thing, a half thing, a greater thing. Where, is such as, in the Lyceum, in the Forum. When, is such as, yesterday, last year. But to be situated, is such as, laid, seated. To have, is such as, shod, armed. But to act, is such as, cutting, burning. And to suffer, is such as, cut, burnt.
3. Each of the things spoken, considered by itself, is not spoken in any affirmation or negation; but by the connection of these with each other, affirmation or negation is produced. For every affirmation or negation appears to be either true or false; but of things which are spoken in no connection, none is either true or false; such for instance as, man, white, running, conquering.
Return to Aristotle, Categories
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