The Hellenistic Schools on the History of Philosophy

Theophrastus may be the most important conduit for pre socratic philosophy, apart from aristotle himself. He imitated his master by writing down a good deal of information about earlier greek philosophical ideas. A few centuries ahead, platonism will contend with and ultimately be reconciled with aristotelianism. The two traditions will make common cause against shared enemies. In order for all that to happen, perhaps the platonists and aristitilians needed some enemies uniting against.