Kategorischen

Kategorischen is the inflected form of the German adjective kategorisch, used to describe statements, judgments, or principles that are categorical in a general sense. In everyday language it denotes something that is absolute, unconditional, and without exceptions. In technical contexts, the term can also relate to categories or classifications, as in grammar or logic, where the idea of distinct, well-defined classes is central.

Etymology and scope: The word kategorisch derives from Kategorie (category) and the suffix -isch, forming an adjective meaning “related to or characteristic of a category.” In philosophy and logic, the term gains a specialized weight. The concept of the categorical imperative, introduced by Immanuel Kant, denotes a command applicable universally, independent of personal desires. In Aristotelian or traditional syllogistic logic, categorical propositions or statements assert something about all members of a category, in contrast to hypothetical or conditional statements.

Usage in German: Kategorisch is used across domains such as philosophy, law, and everyday discourse. Phrases include eine kategorische Bestätigung, eine kategorische Ablehnung, oder im kategorischen Sinn. The inflected form kategorischen appears in specific cases, for example in masculine accusative singular (den kategorischen Imperativ) or in other gender/case combinations (der kategorischen Regel, dem kategorischen Gesetz).

Notes: Although closely related to the noun Kategorie and to the noun form Kategorisierung, kategorisch primarily functions as an adjective with both general and technical shades of meaning. In translation, kategorisch is often rendered as “categorical” in English, while it can also carry nuances like absolute, unwavering, or unconditional depending on context.

See also: Kant, categorical imperative; Aristotelian logic, categorical propositions; category (in philosophy and logic); categorization.