Theophrastus

Theophrastus (372?-287 bc), Greek philosopher, born in Erêssos (modern Eresós), on the island of Lesbos (Lésvos). He studied in Athens with Aristotle, whose devoted pupil he became. When Aristotle retired to Chalcis (Khalkís) in 323 bc, Theophrastus succeeded him as head of the Peripatetic school in the Lyceum (see Peripatetics). Theophrastus lectured at the Lyceum for 35 years, during which time the school enjoyed great success; at one point it had more than 2000 pupils.

Theophrastus wrote about logic, politics, poetry, metaphysics, and every other area of study of his time; many of his treatises, however, are lost. He did much to popularize science. His History of Plants (trans. 1916) and Etiology of Plants presented the first thorough treatment of the science of botany and remained the definitive works on the subject through the Middle Ages. Also extant are portions of his History of Physics; nine scientific treatises including On Stones, On Fire, and On Winds; and his book of 30 ethical sketches, called Characters (trans. 1870), each one pithily depicting a certain personality type, such as the loquacious man, the mean man, and the boastful man. The form and style of characters were imitated by many writers of the 17th and 18th centuries, notably the French essayist Jean de La Bruyère and the English authors Sir Thomas Overbury and Samuel Butler.