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Aristotle, the Categories on Interpretation, And, Prior Analytics
Excerpt from Aristotle, the Categories on Interpretation, And, Prior Analytics
With an eye to the English reader, who knows, perhaps, little of logic and less in that case of Aristotle's, I have tried in translating these texts to bring out the philosopher's meaning as clearly as was in my power. How far I have succeeded in doing so, provided I interpret it rightly, the reader alone can determine. I cannot, in consequence, pretend that I literally translate the Greek, where it seemed that a literal translation would fail to achieve this main purpose. Some scholars may ossibly object that at times I paraphrase Aristotle. T can in that case only plead that a more or less intelligible paraphrase does convey something to the reader, unlike strict adherence to the letter. More over, a literal translation might often repel English readers and read like some alien jargon, as well as in all probability demanding rather copious notes, which are foreign from the scope of this series.
About the Publisher
Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com
This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
With an eye to the English reader, who knows, perhaps, little of logic and less in that case of Aristotle's, I have tried in translating these texts to bring out the philosopher's meaning as clearly as was in my power. How far I have succeeded in doing so, provided I interpret it rightly, the reader alone can determine. I cannot, in consequence, pretend that I literally translate the Greek, where it seemed that a literal translation would fail to achieve this main purpose. Some scholars may ossibly object that at times I paraphrase Aristotle. T can in that case only plead that a more or less intelligible paraphrase does convey something to the reader, unlike strict adherence to the letter. More over, a literal translation might often repel English readers and read like some alien jargon, as well as in all probability demanding rather copious notes, which are foreign from the scope of this series.
About the Publisher
Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com
This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
563 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 323
About the author
Aristotle
4,276 books5,914 followersAristotle (Greek: Αριστοτέλης; 384–322 BC) was an Ancient Greek philosopher and polymath. His writings cover a broad range of subjects spanning the natural sciences, philosophy, linguistics, economics, politics, psychology, and the arts. As the founder of the Peripatetic school of philosophy in the Lyceum in Athens, he began the wider Aristotelian tradition that followed, which set the groundwork for the development of modern science.
Little is known about Aristotle's life. He was born in the city of Stagira in northern Greece during the Classical period. His father, Nicomachus, died when Aristotle was a child, and he was brought up by a guardian. At 17 or 18, he joined Plato's Academy in Athens and remained there until the age of 37 (c. 347 BC). Shortly after Plato died, Aristotle left Athens and, at the request of Philip II of Macedon, tutored his son Alexander the Great beginning in 343 BC. He established a library in the Lyceum, which helped him to produce many of his hundreds of books on papyrus scrolls.
Though Aristotle wrote many treatises and dialogues for publication, only around a third of his original output has survived, none of it intended for publication. Aristotle provided a complex synthesis of the various philosophies existing prior to him. His teachings and methods of inquiry have had a significant impact across the world, and remain a subject of contemporary philosophical discussion.
Aristotle's views profoundly shaped medieval scholarship. The influence of his physical science extended from late antiquity and the Early Middle Ages into the Renaissance, and was not replaced systematically until the Enlightenment and theories such as classical mechanics were developed. He influenced Judeo-Islamic philosophies during the Middle Ages, as well as Christian theology, especially the Neoplatonism of the Early Church and the scholastic tradition of the Catholic Church.
Aristotle was revered among medieval Muslim scholars as "The First Teacher", and among medieval Christians like Thomas Aquinas as simply "The Philosopher", while the poet Dante Alighieri called him "the master of those who know". His works contain the earliest known formal study of logic, and were studied by medieval scholars such as Pierre Abélard and Jean Buridan. Aristotle's influence on logic continued well into the 19th century. In addition, his ethics, although always influential, gained renewed interest with the modern advent of virtue ethics.
Little is known about Aristotle's life. He was born in the city of Stagira in northern Greece during the Classical period. His father, Nicomachus, died when Aristotle was a child, and he was brought up by a guardian. At 17 or 18, he joined Plato's Academy in Athens and remained there until the age of 37 (c. 347 BC). Shortly after Plato died, Aristotle left Athens and, at the request of Philip II of Macedon, tutored his son Alexander the Great beginning in 343 BC. He established a library in the Lyceum, which helped him to produce many of his hundreds of books on papyrus scrolls.
Though Aristotle wrote many treatises and dialogues for publication, only around a third of his original output has survived, none of it intended for publication. Aristotle provided a complex synthesis of the various philosophies existing prior to him. His teachings and methods of inquiry have had a significant impact across the world, and remain a subject of contemporary philosophical discussion.
Aristotle's views profoundly shaped medieval scholarship. The influence of his physical science extended from late antiquity and the Early Middle Ages into the Renaissance, and was not replaced systematically until the Enlightenment and theories such as classical mechanics were developed. He influenced Judeo-Islamic philosophies during the Middle Ages, as well as Christian theology, especially the Neoplatonism of the Early Church and the scholastic tradition of the Catholic Church.
Aristotle was revered among medieval Muslim scholars as "The First Teacher", and among medieval Christians like Thomas Aquinas as simply "The Philosopher", while the poet Dante Alighieri called him "the master of those who know". His works contain the earliest known formal study of logic, and were studied by medieval scholars such as Pierre Abélard and Jean Buridan. Aristotle's influence on logic continued well into the 19th century. In addition, his ethics, although always influential, gained renewed interest with the modern advent of virtue ethics.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 7, 2013
How to talk about what we think about what we talk about.
August 11, 2025
This is easily the most lost I've ever been in trying to make sense of anything non-mathematical. From what I was able to interpret, Categories and On Interpretation are two very cool texts; a large part of both respectively is focused on 1. providing an analysis of language, its composition/categorisation of its parts, and 2. from these how language makes claims about the world , and 2. how from the composition of language we move from more particular claims to universal claims within language about the objects to which language refers. From this, Aristotle seems to be laying down some fundamental rules methodologically with which a philosophical analysis must begin. Some really interesting (and kind of bizarre?) comments are made regarding modal logics in On Interpretation's later chapters. Reading Prior Analytics is akin to trying to digest a boulder, I do not have the stomach for it. All I can say is that all near-inscrutable book are bad for one's digestion; prior analytics is an near-inscrutable book; prior analytics is bad for one's digestion.
January 7, 2023
The Prior Analytics is a baffling book. Judging from the many commentaries that contradict each other in their attempt to make sense of Aristotle’s rules of demonstration and logic, I don’t think it’s simply my own shortcomings at play, though it is a humbling read. This is a brain-activating endeavour and there are magnificent insights about demonstration and knowledge in here if you can keep moving through the baffling parts. One read is not enough, but it was enough for me for now. Posterior Analytics, here I come!
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September 19, 2021Prior Analytics 26/3/24 -
More engaging than the first time, but still very difficult to read. I was probably too harsh in my previous assessment. The essential points made about syllogism are useful and important, but I do think a basic overview might be more beneficial to read than this (as Aristotle is so detail-oriented).
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Categories read 14/9 - 19/9
Certainly helpful for understanding how we use language, but I personally can’t say it’s the most fascinating text. Mostly I think this is because of the awareness that what he’s dealing with doesn’t necessarily describe reality, but describes how we perceive things and talk about them. For some that will appeal, but it’s not my particular area of interest.
Note (9/12/21): After attempting to read On Interpretation and Prior Analytics, I can say with certainty that this kind of investigation holds no appeal for me whatsoever. I will instead take away an unintended lesson: pedantry is not only dull, but it distracts us from what is truly important.
More engaging than the first time, but still very difficult to read. I was probably too harsh in my previous assessment. The essential points made about syllogism are useful and important, but I do think a basic overview might be more beneficial to read than this (as Aristotle is so detail-oriented).
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Categories read 14/9 - 19/9
Certainly helpful for understanding how we use language, but I personally can’t say it’s the most fascinating text. Mostly I think this is because of the awareness that what he’s dealing with doesn’t necessarily describe reality, but describes how we perceive things and talk about them. For some that will appeal, but it’s not my particular area of interest.
Note (9/12/21): After attempting to read On Interpretation and Prior Analytics, I can say with certainty that this kind of investigation holds no appeal for me whatsoever. I will instead take away an unintended lesson: pedantry is not only dull, but it distracts us from what is truly important.
Read
December 26, 2009Yes, we translated some (a v little) of this from the Greek. It was brutal (Aristotle is all particles: 'thing man being does essence of animal this being was not is.' Like that.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews