Peripatetics

Peripatetics (pĕr'əpətĕt'ĭks) [Gr.,=walking about; from Aristotle's manner in teaching], the followers of Aristotle. Theophrastus, friend of Aristotle and cofounder with him of the Peripatetic school of philosophy, succeeded him as its head (323 B.C.) and did much to bring it into favor. Strato of Lampsacus was the next leader of the school. Later Peripatetics were largely occupied in preparing paraphrases, commentaries, and interpretations of the teachings of Aristotle. The first complete edition (c.70 B.C.) in ancient times was arranged by Andronicus of Rhodes. The devotees of the school defended its essential doctrines against the Stoics and others, but some adopted variations, particularly concerning the explanation of nature.