Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • An American sociologist: David Riesman refers to a specific individual, a prominent American sociologist who lived from 1909 to 2002. He is best known for his influential work in sociology, particularly his analysis of American character and social behavior.

Usage

• The name "David Riesman" is used to refer to the person, his ideas, or his body of work.
• It functions as a proper noun and is typically not used with articles (like "a" or "the") when referring to the person himself.

Examples

• Proper noun:
  • David Riesman's most famous book is "The Lonely Crowd." (This sentence identifies his notable work.)
  • Many sociology students study the theories of David Riesman. (This sentence refers to his academic contributions.)
  • The conference included a discussion on the legacy of David Riesman. (This sentence uses his name to denote his historical influence.)

Advanced Usage

• As an attributive noun: The name can be used attributively to describe concepts, eras, or works associated with him.
  • Riesman's analysis of "other-directed" society remains relevant. (Here, "Riesman's" acts as a possessive adjective modifying "analysis".)
  • We are examining the Riesman thesis on social conformity. (Here, "Riesman" acts as an attributive noun modifying "thesis".)

Variants and Related Words

• Riesmanian (adj): Pertaining to or characteristic of David Riesman or his sociological theories.
  • The essay offered a Riesmanian perspective on modern consumer culture.

Synonyms

• Sociologist: A scholar who studies the development, structure, and functioning of human society. (This is a general term; "David Riesman" is a specific instance.)
• Social theorist: A person who develops theories about society and social relationships.

Related Terms and Concepts

• "The Lonely Crowd": The title of David Riesman's seminal 1950 work, co-authored with Nathan Glazer and Reuel Denney. It is often cited alongside his name.
• "Inner-directed" and "Other-directed": Key concepts from Riesman's work describing types of social character and sources of personal values.

Noun

1. United States sociologist (1909-2002)