PERIPATETIC SCHOOL. — The followers of Aristotle were called οἱ ἐκ τοῦ περιπάτου in reference to the avenue (περίπατος) of the Lyceum (the seat of the school), and περιπατητικοί (a word connected with περιπατεῖν) in reference to their custom (also common in other schools) of disputing while walking. This, at least, still seems the most plausible solution to the well-known etymological question that arose concerning the name.
In the history of the school itself (which was also simply called the “Peripatos”), several periods must be distinguished. Among the Peripatetics of the first generation after Aristotle’s death, the principal figures were Theophrastus of Eresus (v.), Eudemus of Rhodes (second half of the 4th century B.C.), Dicaearchus of Messina (a versatile writer whose ἀνὴμ may be placed no later than around 310), Aristoxenus of Tarentum (born between 375 and 360, an eminent theorist of music), Clearchus of Soli, and Demetrius of Phalerum (born around 350 B.C.), a pupil of Theophrastus. The orientation they gave the school was characterized by extensive research in natural science, literary history, and various kinds of erudition, as well as by treatments of popular ethics, to the detriment of metaphysics. Of the Peripatetic production of the period there remain Theophrastus’s Characters, two botanical works and several other scientific treatises by Theophrastus himself, the Elements of Harmony (Ἀρμωνικά στοιχεῖα), a portion of the Elements of Rhythm (Ὑυθμικά στοιχεῖα) by Aristoxenus, and only fragments of other works. Among the lost philosophical writings were the dialogues Κορινθικὸς and Λεσβικὸς of Dicaearchus, in which the Messenean denied the tenability of the soul. The same orientation of the p. s. was preserved, and indeed intensified, during the first part of the Hellenistic age. The Aristotelians continued to devote themselves actively to the natural sciences and to the various fields of history. In philosophy, the most noteworthy figure was Strato of Lampsacus, the “physicist,” Theophrastus’s successor as head of the school (a position he held from 288–87 [or 287–86] until his death in 270–69 [or 269–68]). Strato distorted the Stagirite’s doctrine in a thoroughly naturalistic direction, identifying God with natural necessity and drawing Democritus (v.). A pupil of Strato was Aristarchus of Samos (died after 264 B.C.), the astronomer who anticipated the Copernican heliocentric conception. Other Peripatetics of this period were Leo of the Troad (ca. 300–225 B.C.), head of the school for many years; Aristo of Ceos (3rd century B.C.); Critolaus of Phaselis (first half of the 2nd century B.C.); and Diodorus of Tyre (flourished in the first decades of the second half of the 2nd century B.C.). Literary history and the history of philosophy were studied by Hermippus (3rd century B.C.), Sotion (author of a Διεθνή τῶν φιλοσόφων written between 200 and 170 B.C.), Satyrus (3rd century B.C.), Heraclides Lembus (2nd century B.C.), and others. Much of the information we possess about the Greek authors of the classical age ultimately goes back to the works of these men; and the Peripatos was also responsible for the formation of that particular literary genre which is biography. The p. s., however, suffered, as an institution, beginning with Leo, a decline from which it would not recover until the age of Andronicus.
In the 1st century B.C. a third phase began, bringing a more vigorous flourishing of the school itself. A fruitful and imposing scholarly effort was undertaken concerning the works of the Stagirite, which Andronicus of Rhodes (v. around 70 B.C), tenth or eleventh in the succession of heads of the school, collected, arranged, published in a new edition, and commented upon. The imperial age was marked by a notable series of commentators on Aristotle, among whom the famous Alexander of Aphrodisias (v. 2nd century A.D), called the “second Aristotle,” excelled; his exegeses were destined to exert a very powerful influence even in the Middle Ages. Important studies of Aristotle were also devoted by Boethus of Sidon (perhaps living in the Augustan age), author of a Commentary on the Categories; Aristo of Alexandria (first half of the 1st century A.D., likewise a commentator on the Categories); Xenarchus of Seleucia (Augustan age); and the polymath Nicolaus of Damascus (born around 63 B.C.); Alexander of Aegae (1st century A.D., Nero’s teacher); Ptolemy Chennus (a philosopher and grammarian who flourished around 100 A.D., author of a work on the life and writings of the Stagirite); Aspasius (first half of the 2nd century A.D.); Adrastus of Aphrodisias (around the second half of the 2nd century A.D.); and Herminus (2nd century A.D.). It should be noted that in this age interest in Aristotelian metaphysics and logic was revived, areas to which the Hellenistic Peripatos had devoted little attention. It was precisely at this time that Aristotelianism was given the configuration of an organic system in which it would be transmitted to the Middle Ages. Meanwhile, although the p. s. in general remained fairly orthodox and conservative with respect to the master’s thought, there were also representatives of an eclectic Aristotelianism, such as the author of the pseudo-Aristotelian work Περὶ κόσμου (in which an attempt is made to reconcile Aristotle with the Stoa); the famous geographer and astronomer Claudius Ptolemy (2nd century A.D.); Galen (v.).
One of Themistius (v.), author of Paraphrases of various writings of the Stagirite.
Raffaello Del Re