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Theophrastus · Fragments §55.1

Instantaneous Change and Alexander on Time

Passage 46 of 196 · Greek

Summary

The contrast is presented between Alexander's view that all change occurs in time and Theophrastus's doubt, who likely considered instantaneous changes like light filling a room without time.

§55.1Fr. 55 Ἀλέξανδρος μὲν οὖν οἴεται πᾶσαν μεταβολὴν εἶναι ἐν χρόνῳ, Θ. δὲ ἔοικε διαποροῦντι καὶ ἴσως ὑφεωρᾶτο τὰς ἀπὸ σκότους εἰς φῶς μεταβολὰς ὅταν εἰσκομισθέντος εἰς τὸ δωμάτιον λύχνου πᾶς ἀθρόως ὁ οἶκος ἀναπλησθῇ τῆς αὐγῆς καὶ τοῦ φωτὸς ἄνευ χρόνου.
Alexander, then, thinks that every change is in time, but Theophrastus seems to be in doubt and was perhaps suspecting the changes from darkness to light, when, a lamp having been brought into the room, the whole house is filled at once with radiance and light without time.

Notes

  1. 55.1ἔοικε διαποροῦντι — The verb ἔοικε is constructed with the dative participle (here διαποροῦντι) to mean "he seems to be in doubt" or "he is like one who is in doubt." The dative is used instead of a nominative participle agreeing with the subject.
  2. 55.1ὑφεωρᾶτο — Imperfect middle third-person singular of ὑφοράω ("to suspect, have in view"). The tense shifts from the perfect-present ἔοικε to the past (imperfect) to describe Theophrastus's past mental activity.
  3. 55.1ἀναπλησθῇ τῆς αὐγῆς καὶ τοῦ φωτὸς — The aorist passive subjunctive third-person singular (ἀναπλησθῇ) introduced by the conjunction ὅταν. The verb ἀναπίμπλημι ("to fill") takes the genitive of the substance filling it (τῆς αὐγῆς καὶ τοῦ φωτὸς).

Cite this passage

Theophrastus, Fragments §55.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0093.tlg010x09.humanitext-grc1:55.1

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