Isidore Auguste Comte

- Isidore Marie Auguste Francois Xavier Comte (full name)

- Was a French philosopher and writer who formulated the doctrine of positivism
- Positivism; it is a philosophical theory that holds all genuine either positive – posteriori
Latin phrases used in philosophy to recognize the types of knowledge, justification or
argument
- often regarded as the first philosopher of science
- his ideas were also fundamental to the development of sociology
- era – 19th century philosophy
- he founded positivism, sociology, the history of science
- major work, the Cours de philosophie positive; it outined the main tenets (principle) of
his scientific system of philosophy called positivism
In this work Comte analyzes the relation of social evolution and the stages of science. He sees th
e intellectual development of man covered by what is called the Law of the Three Stages—
theological, in which events were largely attributed to supernatural forces; metaphysical, in whic
h natural phenomena are thought to result from fundamental energies or ideas; and positive, in w
hich phenomena are explained by observation, hypotheses, and experimentation.
After reviewing the history of the sciences, the Cours explained that it was time to apply the
scientific method to social phenomena. Comte coined the term ‘sociology’ to refer to this new
social science, which made society part of nature. 
- Second main work, the Systeme de politique positive
To him, an intellectual revolution would lead to a moral regeneration, which in turn would result
in a final social and political restructuring – a restructuring that would decrease class conflict,
ensure social justice, and end war. Comte’s ideas influenced the scholarly world and political
systems in Europe, the United States, and Latin America.