Notes: Aristotle's Ten Categories of Being

1.  Substance is that which exists in itself, for example, man.

2.  Quantity is a determination of the matter of substance, giving it parts distinct from parts, for example, tall.

3.  Quality is a determination of the nature or form of a substance, for example: dark, handsome, intelligent, athletic, chivalrous.

4.  Relation is the reference which a substance or accident bears to another, for example:  friend, near.

5.  Action is the exercise of the faculties or power of a substance so as to produce an effect in something else or in itself, for example: clicking a camera, standing up, smiling.

6.  Passion is the reception by a substance of an effect produced by some agent, for example:  being invited to return, being drafted.

7.  When is position in relation to the course of extrinsic events which measure the duration of a substance, for example, Sunday afternoon.

8.  Where is position in relation to bodies which surround a substance and measure and determine its place, for example: on a bench, beside the lake.

9.  Posture is the relative position which the parts of a substance have toward each other, for example:  sitting, leaning forward.

10.  Habiliment consists of clothing, ornaments, or weapons with which human beings by their art complement their nature in order to conserve their own being or that of the community (the other self), for example, in gray tweeds.

The categories can be organized into three subcategories by what they predicate about the subject.

1.  The predicate is the subject itself.  If the predicate is that which is the subject itself and does not exist in the subject, the predicate is a substance. (John is a human being.)

2.  The predicate exists in the subject.  If the predicate exists in the subject absolutely as flowing from matter, the predicate is a quantity. (John is tall.)  If the predicate exists in the subject absolutely as flowing from form, the predicate is a quality. (John is intelligent.)  If the predicate exists in the subject relatively with respect to another, the predicate is in the category relation.  (John is Michael's son.)

3.  The predicate exists in something extrinsic to the subject.  If the predicate exists in something  to the subject and is partially extrinsic as a principle of action in the subject, the predicate is an action.  (John analyzed the data.)  If the predicate exists in something extrinsic to the subject and is a terminus of action in the subject, the predicate is a passion.  (John was injured.)  If the predicate exists in something extrinsic to the subject and is wholly extrinsic as a measure of the subject according to time, the predicate is in the category when.  (John was late.)  If the predicate exists in something extrinsic to the subject and is wholly extrinsic as a measure of the subject according to place, the predicate is in the category where.  (John is here.)  If the predicate exists in something extrinsic to the subject and is wholly extrinsic as a measure of the subject according to the order of parts, the predicate is in the category posture.  (John is standing.)  If the predicate exists in something extrinsic to the subject and is merely adjacent to the subject, the predicate is in the category habiliment.  (John is in formal dress.)