Various authors (Dromel, Lorenz, Petersen, Wechssler, Pinder, Drerup, Mannheim, and so on) have addressed the theme of the generations, but it is Ortega y Gasset who must be recognized for having established in his theory of generations the key to understanding the intrinsic movement of the historical process. (31)
In: Historiological Discussions, Silo
Chapter 3: History and Temporality, 3.2 Horizon and Temporal Landscape
Philologist
1871 born on 11 February in Borghorst near Steinfurt
From 1889 studied classical philology in Münster, Munich, Berlin, Freiburg/Br. and Leipzig.
1894 doctorate in Leipzig.
1895/1896 extensive study trip to Italy and Greece.
1897: He became a private lecturer in classical philology in Munich.
1906: Appointed associate professor.
1910: Honorary member of the Archaeological Society in Athens.
1913 Professor in Würzburg
1923 Professorship in Nijmegen/Netherlands (1929 Dean; 1930/1931 Rector).
1942 Died on 16 September in Münster
Topics
Rhetorical studies
Studies on the Attic speakers Isocrates and Demosthenes, their rhetoric and stylistics
Publication of the fundamental edition of the works of Isocrates
Studies on prose rhythm and argumentation in the Attic court speeches
Palaeography and textual criticism
Extensive work with medieval manuscripts of Greek texts in numerous libraries
Text-critical editions, in particular in preparation for the Isocrates edition
Composition studies
Analyses of the compositional technique of Greek tragedies
Studies on ‘Homeric poetics’
Generationenforschung
Studies on the role of generations in the historical and literary process of antiquity
Periodisation of ancient literature from a generational perspective
Drerup's fields of work thus spanned a wide range of classical philology, from text criticism and editorial philology to rhetoric and stylistics, to issues of literary and cultural history. Particularly noteworthy are his pioneering works on generational research in antiquity
Major works
Isocrates Edition
Fundamental critical edition of the works of the Attic orator Isocrates (1900-1923) - his major work
Rhetorical Studies
‘Aus einer alten Advokatenrepublik’ (1916) - Studies on Demosthenes and Attic rhetoric
Studies on prosodic rhythm and argumentation in the Attic orations
Generation research
‘The generational problem in ancient Greece’ (1933) - Pioneering work on the role of generations in the cultural process
Homer research
‘The beginnings of Hellenic culture: Homer’ (1903) - Analysis of Homeric poetry
Studies on ‘Homeric Poetics’ (unpublished)
Composition studies
Studies on the compositional technique of Greek tragedies (partly unpublished)
In addition to these central works, Drerup wrote numerous other essays and treatises on various topics in classical philology. His edition of Isocrates' writings and his works on generational research are considered his most important and influential achievements
Influence
Drerup's work had a lasting influence on classical philology in the first half of the 20th century. His work remains an important reference, particularly for research into rhetoric and generations in ancient times. Many of his insights and approaches have been further developed and form the basis for research today.
Why is he mentioned by Silo in ‘Historiological Discussions’?
In his work ‘The Generation Problem in Ancient Greece’ (1933) and other writings, Drerup examined the importance of generations in history. He put forward the idea that the succession of generations is a driving force in historical progress. Drerup was particularly interested in how generational change influences cultural and social development and how this dynamic manifested itself in ancient Greece.
https://marcuse.faculty.history.ucsb.edu/classes/201/articles/85JaegerGenInHistHISTTHEOCrOCR.pdf
http://www2.classics.unibo.it/eikasmos/eik_pdf/1993/Drerup_93.pdf