Full Idea
Aristotle seems to have worked out his list of categories by considering various questions that one might ask about a particular object, such as What is it? How big is it? How is it qualified? And Where is it?
Gist of Idea
Aristotle derived categories as answers to basic questions about nature, size, quality, location etc.
Source
report of Aristotle (Categories [c.331 BCE]) by Mary Louise Gill - Aristotle on Substance
Book Reference
Gill,Mary Louise: 'Aristotle on Substance: Paradox of Unity' [Princeton 1989], p.188
A Reaction
Of course, to think of his questions, Aristotle already had categories in his mind. How would he approach a proposal to recategorise reality more efficiently?