a philosopher of Lampsacus, disciple and successor in the school of Theophrastus, about 248 years before the Christian era. He applied himself with uncommon industry to the study of nature; and after the most mature investigations, he supported that nature was inanimate, and that there was no god but nature. (See PLASTIC Nature). He was appointed preceptor to Ptolemy Philadelphus, who not only revered his abilities and learning, but also rewarded his labours with unbounded liberality. He wrote different treatises, all now lost.