Theophrastus (371 BC - 287 BC)

For Theophrastus, the necessity of universal principles derives from the corporeal and composite nature of the world. Space (defined as the arrangement and position of bodies) has no substance, and neither has time; time is an accident of motion, which in turn is the result of all activity. There is no difference between the way animals and human beings feel, sense, and reason. Man's happiness depends on not only personal effort but also external influences: "Life is ruled by fortune, not wisdom." 

Modern Reflection  

Theophrastus’s interest in character types and moral psychology makes him unexpectedly relevant to modern personality theory. His observations about how temperament shapes action anticipate contemporary research on traits, dispositions, and behavioral tendencies. While his classifications can feel impressionistic, they highlight the idea that freedom is influenced by stable patterns of response rather than isolated decisions. He offers an early attempt to understand agency through the lens of psychological diversity.