[1] _Apost. Constit._ viii. 2.
[2] Canon 42.
CATEGORY (Gr.: [Greek: kategoria], "accusation"), a term used both in
ordinary language and in philosophy with the general significance of
"class" or "group." In popular language it is used for any large group
of similar things, and still more generally as a mere synonym for the
word "class." The word was introduced into philosophy as a technical
term by Aristotle, who, however, several times used it in its original
sense of "accusation." He also used the verb [Greek: kategorein], to
accuse, in the specific logical sense, to predicate; [Greek: tho
kategoroumenon] becomes the predicate; and [Greek: kategorikhe protasis]
may be translated as affirmative proposition. But though the word thus
received a new signification from Aristotle, it is not on that account
certain that the thing it was taken to signify was equally a novelty in
philosophy. In fact we find in the records of Oriental and early Greek
thought something corresponding to the Aristotelian classification.
Hindu philosophy.
Our knowledge of Hindu philosophy, and of the relations in which it
may have stood to Greek speculation, scarcely enables us to give
decisive answers to various questions that naturally arise on
observation of their many resemblances (see an article by Richard
Garbe in _Monist_, iv. 176-193). Yet the similarity between the two is
so striking that, if not historically connected, they must at least be
regarded as expressions of similar philosophic needs. The Hindu
classification to which we specially refer is that of Kanada, who lays
down six categories, or classes of existence, a seventh being
generally added by the commentators. The term employed is _Padartha_,
meaning "signification of a word." This is in entire harmony with the
Aristotelian doctrine, the categories of which may with truth be
described as significations of simple terms, [Greek: tha katha
medemian sueplokhen legomena]. The six categories of Kanada are
Substance, Quality, Action, Genus, Individuality, and Concretion or
Co-inherence. To these is added Non-Existence, Privation or Negation.
_Substance_ is the permanent substance in which _Qualities_ exist.
_Action_, belonging to or inhering in substances, is that which
produces change, _Genus_ belongs to substance, qualities and actions;
there are higher and lower genera. _Individuality_, found only in
substance, is that by which a thing is self-existent and marked off
from others. _Concretion_ or Co-inherence denotes inseparable or
necessary connection, such as that between substance and quality.
Under these six classes, [Greek: gene tou hontos], Kanada then
proceeds to range the facts of the universe.[1]