Aristotle left implicit. Theophrastos willingly entertained multiple explanations for certain
phenomena. For the most part, he raises problems and indicates various difficulties rather
than offering a systematic theory. He adheres to a uniform physical system in which he
emphasizes the hot, active element versus the three passive ones, putting the Sun in the
center of activity as the pre-eminent heat. Theophrastos does not wholly oppose teleological
explanations of all natural phenomena, but rejects them in several instances, e.g., ocean
tides, droughts, male breasts, beards (cf. Metaph. 10a28–b16), and domestication of plants,
which presents a conflict with their natural goals (e.g., Plant Explanations 1.16). Theophrastos
maintains Aristotle’s doctrine of the eternity of the universe, which depends on reciprocity
of the four elements as they change into one another. Theophrastos nowhere mentions the
Aristotelian notion that the heavens are composed of a fifth element, aithe ̄r, but he does
consider the heavens ensouled yet self-moving, rather than moving through their longing for
a transcendent Unmoved Mover. While he may have allowed supra-sensible principles,
Theophrastos emphasized the limitations of human understanding and the need to start from
what is accessible to us, which of course are the phenomena of the natural world to which
he devoted so much of his intellectual energy.
Ed.: P. Steinmetz, Die Physik des Theophrast (1964); D. Eichholz, On Stones (1965); V. Coutant, On Fire
(1971); V. Coutant and V. Eichenlaub, On Winds (1975); B. Einarson and G. Link, Plant Explanations
(1976–1990); S. Amigues, Researches on Plants (1988–2003); H. Daiber, Meteorology (RUSCH 1992);
Testimonia and fragments in W.W. Fortenbaugh et al., Theophrastus of Eresus (1992); U. Eigler and
G. Wöhrle, On Odors (1993); R.W. Sharples, On Fish (RUSCH 1992); A. Laks and G. Most, Metaphysics
(1993); R.W. Sharples, Theophrastus of Eresus, Commentary v. 3.1: Biology (1998) and Commentary v.
5: Physics (1995); W.W. Fortenbaugh, R.W. Sharples, and Michael G. Sollenberger, On Sweat, On
Dizziness, On Fatigue (2003).
G. Stratton, Theophrastus and the Greek Physiological Psychology before Aristotle [On Sense-Perceptions] (1917);
A. Hort, On Weather Signs (1926); RE S.7 (1940) 1354–1562 (#3), O. Regenbogen; OCD3 1504 – 1505,
R.W. Sharples.
Michael G. Sollenberger
Theophrastos, pseudo (330 – 300 BCE?)
Wrote On Signs of rains, winds, storms, and clement weathers, addressing each of these topics,
mostly for predicting imminent weather within the seasonal patterns. Few of the signs are
astronomical, although a miscellany of irregular astronomical signs (e.g., comets) at the
end predict seasonal variations. Apparently a Peripatetic treatise and seemingly used by
A, it could be a later compilation, but must be no earlier than 430 BCE, as it mentions
M’s calendar, and probably much later, as it mentions Herme ̄s’ Star (Mercury).
Ed.: D. Sider and C.W. Brunschön, On Weather Signs = Philosophia Antiqua 104 (2007).
P. Cronin, “The Authorship and Soures of Peri se ̄meio ̄n Ascribed to Theophrastus,” in W.W. Fortenbaugh
and D. Gutas, Theophrastus: His Psychological, Doxographical, and Scientific Writings (1992) 307–345;
D. Sider, “On On Signs,” in W.W. Fortenbaugh and G. Wöhrle, On the Opuscula of Theophrastus (2002)
99 – 111.
Henry Mendell
Theophulaktos Simokatte ̄s (610 – 645? CE)
Theophulaktos the “snub-nosed cat” (perhaps a physically descriptive epithet) was a “soph-
ist” (Souda Theta-201; Sigma-435) and Egyptian civil servant (Hist. 7.16.10). Probably
THEOPHULAKTOS SIMOKATTE ̄S