Davis, Kingsley

Davis, Kingsley
▪ 1998

      American sociologist and demographer (b. Aug. 20, 1908, Tuxedo, Texas—d. Feb. 27, 1997, Stanford, Calif.), was a world-renowned expert on population trends; he coined the terms population explosion and zero population growth and promoted methods of bringing the latter about. Later, however, he came to be concerned about low birthrates in developed countries, fearing a shortage of educated leaders. Davis was educated at the University of Texas (B.A., 1930; M.A., 1933) and Harvard University (Ph.D., 1936). He spent the early years of his career teaching at Smith College, Northampton, Mass. (1934-36), Clark University, Worcester, Mass. (1936-37), Pennsylvania State University (1937-42), and Princeton University (1942-48). The publication of Human Society (1949) led to Davis's appointment to the directorship (1949-55) of the Bureau of Applied Social Research at Columbia University, New York City, and he followed that with 22 years (1955-77) at the University of California, Berkeley. From 1977 until his retirement in 1992, he was a professor of sociology at the University of Southern California, and from 1981 he was also a fellow of the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. Davis conducted studies in Europe, Latin America, and less-developed countries such as India, Nepal, and Bahrain and was a much-sought-after consultant and analyst. Among his books were A Crowding Hemisphere: Population Change in the Americas (1958) and World Urbanization 1950-70 (2 vol., 1969-72). In 1966 Davis was elected to the National Academy of Sciences, the first sociologist to be so honoured.

* * *

▪ American sociologist
born Aug. 20, 1908, Tuxedo, Texas, U.S.
died Feb. 27, 1997, Stanford, Calif.

      American sociologist and demographer who coined the terms population explosion and zero population growth. His specific studies of American society led him to work on a general science of world society, based on empirical analysis of each society in its habitat.

      Davis received his B.A. from the University of Texas (1930) and his M.A. (1933) and his Ph.D. from Harvard University (1936). He began his teaching career in sociology as an instructor at Smith College (1934–36), then was assistant professor at Clark University (1936–37). He served as associate professor and later chairman of the department at Pennsylvania State University (1937–42). It was not until his associate professorship in anthropology and sociology at Princeton University that he completed his first and key work, Human Society (1949). Its publication brought him an invitation to teach and direct in the Bureau of Applied Social Research at Columbia University (1949–55).

      Davis' mastery of demography, demonstrated in his editing of World Population in Transition (1945) and afterward, became an increasingly important analytic tool. After leaving Columbia, Davis taught at the University of California at Berkeley (1955–77), where he was professor of sociology and comparative studies from 1971 to 1977. From 1977 he was professor of sociology of the University of Southern California.

      Davis led a social-science team sponsored by the Carnegie Corporation to 10 countries in Africa and directed studies of societies in India, Europe, and Latin America. The Population of India and Pakistan (1951), A Crowding Hemisphere: Population Change in the Americas (1958), and World Urbanization 1950–70, 2 vol. (1969–72), contain his social theory for a general science of human society.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Kingsley Davis — Nacimiento 20 de agosto de 1908  Estados Unidos Fallecimiento 27 de febrero de 1997 …   Wikipedia Español

  • Davis-Moore hypothesis — The Davis Moore Hypothesis is a central claim within the structural functionalist paradigm of sociological theory, and was advanced by Kingsley Davis and Wilbert E. Moore in a paper published in 1945.[1] Argument The Davis Moore hypothesis is… …   Wikipedia

  • Kingsley Davis — (August 20, 1908 February 27, 1997) was an American sociologist and demographer. He contributed to studies of American and worldwide societies, and coined the terms population explosion . Kingsley is also credited with coining the term zero… …   Wikipedia

  • Kingsley Davis — (* 20. August 1908 in Tuxedo, Jones County, Texas; † 27. Februar 1997 in Stanford, Kalifornien) war ein US amerikanischer Soziologe. Er gilt als Klassiker der Bevölkerungswissenschaft. Leben und Werk Davis studierte Englisch, Philosophie und… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Kingsley — puede referir a: Personas Como nombre: Kingsley Amis, novelista inglés. Kingsley Davis, demógrafo estadounidense. Kingsley Onuegbu, futbolista nigeriano. Como apellido: Ben Kingsley, actor británico. Gershon Kingsley, compositor estadounidense de …   Wikipedia Español

  • Davis — ist ein häufiger Familienname. Er steht zum König David im Alten Testament, im allgemeinen mit einer patronymischen s Bildung zu dem häufigen Vornamen David, als Verkürzung aus Davids. Davis ist auch der Name einer Universitätsstadt in… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Davis–Monthan Air Force Base — Part of Air Combat Command (ACC) Located near: Tucson, AZ …   Wikipedia

  • Kingsley Shacklebolt — Liste des personnages de l’univers de Harry Potter Cet article est une liste référençant les personnages de l univers de Harry Potter. Les personnages principaux peuvent être identifiés dans les articles suivants : Harry Potter Ron Weasley… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Kingsley Association (Pittsburgh, PA) — The Kingsley Association, organized in 1893, began as a single settlement house located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, named the Kingsley House. It has since relocated its settlement house to to East Liberty (Pittsburgh) where it continues to… …   Wikipedia

  • Kingsley House — Infobox nrhp | name =Kingsley House nrhp type = caption = location= Rehoboth, Massachusetts lat degrees = 41 lat minutes = 46 lat seconds = 44 lat direction = N long degrees = 71 long minutes = 15 long seconds = 39 long direction = W locmapin =… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”