Biography

Isidore Auguste Marie Franois Xavier Comte (19

January 1798 5 September 1857), better known
as Auguste Comte, was a French philosopher. He
was a founder of the discipline of sociology and of
the doctrine of positivism. He is sometimes
regarded as the first philosopher of science in the
modern sense of the term.
At the age of 16, he left home in Montpellier for
Paris, he enrolled in the cole Polytechnique. But
expelled because of organizing a demonstration.

Auguste Comte was born in Montpellier, Hrault on 19

January 1798. After attending the Lyce Joffre and then
the University of Montpellier, Comte was admitted to t
he cole Polytechnique in Paris. The cole Polytechniq
ue was notable for its adherence to the French ideals o
f republicanism and progress. The cole closed in 1816
for reorganization, however, and Comte continued his
studies at the medical school at Montpellier. When the
cole Polytechnique reopened, he did not request read
mission. In 1818, he met Hebri de Saint-Simon, famous
French Socialist, whom he collaborated on a series of e
ssays. But when major differences developed, they end
ed their relationship with much bitterness.

Comte married Caroline Massin in 1825. In 1826, he w

as taken to a mental health hospital, but left without b
eing cured only stabilized by French alienist Jean-tie
nne Dominique squirol so that he could work again
on his plan (he would later attempt suicide in 1827 by j
umping off the Pont des Arts). In the time between this
and their divorce in 1842, he published the six volume
s of his Cours. Comte died in Paris on 5 September 185
7 from stomach cancer and was buried in the famous
Pre Lachaise Cemetery, surrounded by cenotaphs in
memory of his mother, Rosalie Boyer, and of Clotilde d
e Vaux. His apartment from 18411857 is now conserv
ed as the Maison d'Auguste Comte and is located at 10
rue Monsieur-le-Prince, in Paris' 6th arrondissement.

Contributions
often called the father of sociologyfirst used the term soci
ology in 1838 to refer to the scientific study of society. He beli
eved that all societies develop and progress through the follo
wing stages: religious, metaphysical, and scientific. Comte arg
ued that society needs scientific knowledge based on facts an
d evidence to solve its problemsnot speculation and superst
ition, which characterize the religious and metaphysical stages
of social development. Comte viewed the science of sociology
as consisting of two branches: dynamics, or the study of the p
rocesses by which societies change; and statics, or the study o
f the processes by which societies endure. He also envisioned
sociologists as eventually developing a base of scientific social
knowledge that would guide society into positive directions.

Generally recognized as the FATHR OF SOCIOLOGY

. A philosopher greatly influenced by events followi
ng French Revolution.
He developed his own idea, CRBRAL HYGIN, w
hich mean not reading any scientific writings, revie
ws, or even newspapers to keep the mind from bei
ng contaminated by the thoughts of others.
He completed his first great work, POSITIV PHILO
SOPHY, composed odf six volumes in 1842. In 1854
, produced his major work, POSITIV POLITY. He ref
used all royalties in all his books should be given to
the world because of believing in the importance of
his ideas.

Influenced by the utopian socialist Henri Saint-Simon

, Comte developed the positive philosophy in an atte
mpt to remedy the social malaise of the French Revol
ution, calling for a new social doctrine based on the s
ciences.
Comte was a major influence on 19th-century thoug
ht, influencing the work of social thinkers such as Kar
l Marx, John Stuart Mill, and George liot.
His concept of sociologie and social evolutionism set
the tone for early social theorists and anthropologist
s such as Harriet Martineau and Herbert Spencer, ev
olving into modern academic sociology presented by
mile Durkheim as practical and objective social rese
arch.

Others...
Comte's social theories culminated in his "Religi
on of Humanity", which presaged the developm
ent of religious humanist and secular humanist
organizations in the 19th century. Comte may h
ave coined the word altruisme (altruism).

Another early figure, he is largely credited with f

ounding the discipline. He is also considered on
e of the first philosophers of science and one of
the first positivists all of which is a pretty big b
urden for one man to bear. Furthermore, most
of his lifes work went into concept of religion of
humanity, a kind of secular replacement for reli
gion about celebrating humanity coming togeth
er as one but without the superstition. The idea
further went on to influence the modern move
ment of humanism both human and religious t
hat grew through the 19th and 20th centuries.

Important details
Philosophical studies (in Western philosophy: Positivism and social theory i
n Comte, Mill, and Marx)
Political philosophy (in political philosophy: Saint-Simon and Comte)
Born after the French revolution of 1789.
He proposed the Philosophical position of Positivism
He theorized that the methods of physical science are regarded as the acc
urate means of obtaining knowledge and therefore social science should a
dhere to the same.
He developed the idea and coined the term Sociology
He was the founder of Sociology

POSITIV PHILOSOPHY
first used the term "sociology" which intended
to call Social Physics, which is the study of soci
ety on a higher level.
aim to develop and advance the study of socie
ty to the third and last stage and to apply the
methods of science to study of society.
improve society by studying and reorganizing
society along scientific lines.

Two subject matter:

1. Social Statics - study of structure of society
2. Social Dynamics - social evolution and chang
e
Three stages of knowledge:
3. thelogical or religious stage
4. metaphysical or abstract reasoning stage
5. positive or scientific stage