196 Philosophy of Botany. 



by inductions ; and his system, thus an inductive philosophy, 

 was in reality the true beginning of science. 



Here it must be observed that, notwithstanding his correct 

 and scientific method, his time was not in possession of the 

 sufficient knowledge needed to support such a vast edifice as 

 he aimed to construct, and many of his statements are asser- 

 tions deficient in proof. The sviperiority of his abilities and 

 the novelty, of his . doctrines created him many rivals and 

 enemies, against whose- assaults he was well shielded through 

 the influence of his friend, Alexander; but after the death 

 of Alexander the fire of jealousy burst into a flame of per- 

 secution. Eurymedon, a priest, was instigated to -.accuse 

 him of holding and promulgating impious tenets. Opinions 

 of his, pointing to the denial of the necessity of prayers and 

 sacrifices, were to be resented as inimical to existing religious 

 institutions. Aristotle became apprehensive of meeting the 

 fate of Socrates, and concluded to retire and leave Athens. " I 

 am not willing," says he, " to give the Athenians an opportu- 

 nity of committing a second offense against philosophy." He 

 departed for Chalcis, where he died in the sixty-third year of 

 his age. 



When Aristotle withdrew from the charge of the Peripa- 

 tetic school in the Lyceum, his disciples importuned him to 

 nominate a successor. In compliance Avith their request, he- 

 appointed to the chair one of his favorite pupils, Theophrastus. 

 B.C. 323. This philosopher was a native of Eresus, in Lesbos. 

 He had studied under Alcippus, Plato, and Aristotle. When 

 "he undertook the charge of the Peripatetic school, he con- 

 ducted it with such high reputation that he had about two 

 thousand scholars, among whom were Nicomachus, the son of ■ 

 Aristotle, whom his father intrusted, by will, to his charge. 

 He lived to the advanced age of eighty-five. His last advice 

 to his disciples was that " since it is the lot of man to die as 

 soon as he begins to live, they would take more pains to enjoy 

 life as it passes than to acquire posthumous fame." He wrote 

 many valuable works, of which all that remain are two books, 

 " On the Natural History of Plants " and treatises " On Fossils 

 and Metaphysical Fragments." With this work he laid the 

 foundation of the scientific botany. 



