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Erich Fromm, the Mentor
(2021)
In the previous chapter, we examined numerous aspects of postwar American society that came into play in Riesman’s formulation of autonomy. Many factors carry weight when we consider what inspired him to write >The Lonely Crowd< and to offer his insightful analysis of conformity’s malaise. Among those who influenced Riesman intellectually, there can be little doubt that Erich Fromm played a major role. Although Riesman never accepted Fromm’s pessimistic view and radical approach to modernity in the West, we clearly see the impact of Fromm on Riesman’s ideas about social character, conformity, and especially autonomy. Thus, in order to better understand Riesman we must take a look at Fromm’s theories especially in some of his early books. Here we find several core ideas that heavily impacted Riesman’s theory of autonomy.