Greek philosophers
Theophrastus
Theophrastus was a Greek philosopher, scientist and rhetorician. He was born in 372 BC (Eres na Lesbos) and died in 287 BC (Athens).
Theophrastus succeeded Aristotle in the leadership of the Peripatetic school. He was mainly concerned with the natural sciences, especially botany and plant physiology, for which he is as important as Aristotle for zoology. Theophrastos is taken as the founder of botanical systematics, dendrology or forestry sciences. In contemporary botanical systematics, his authorial abbreviation is "Theophr".
Theophrastos was a highly respected citizen in Athens, who led the Peripatetic School for 34 long years. He himself lectured there on philosophy, natural science and rhetoric. In all his activities he followed Aristotle.
His main work was the History of Natural Theories, which has 16 books. But only a fraction of them have survived. In addition to the doctrine itself, the book contained a history and criticism of previous systems. Of Aristotle's four causes, he places the efficient cause first, not the final cause.
Theophrastos also dealt with mineralogy, to which he devoted a section of his treatise Peri lithon. A favourite work was the treatise Charaktéres (Povahopis), which in 30 short sections gives very fine characteristics of ridiculous and disgraceful characters according to the types of the new Attic comedy.
Theophrastus was not only a philosopher, but also engaged in politics.