AUGUSTE COMTE: LAW OF THREE STAGES

THEOLOGICAL, METAPHYSICAL, POSITIVISM

Comte (1798-1857)
-Social progress: law of three stages
-Theological, Metaphysical, Positivism
-progress: increasing control over
environment.

The three parts in progress

- intellectual, material, tural.
 Social Status, Social Dynamics
-Social Status: Law of action, reaction
Study of human nature
Study of social nature.

Social Dynamics
-progress and development.
-Social processes.
 The Law of three stages:
-Knowledge passes through three
stages:
Theological or fictitious.
The Metaphysical or abstract.
Scientific or positive.
 Theological Stage:
-Three subparts: Fetishism
Polytheism
Monotheism
-Fetishism: each object has life.
Stones, trees, river, clouds.
-Polytheism: beliefs, spirits, many
Gods.
-Monotheism: beliefs in one God,
powerful all pervading.
 Metaphysical Stage:
- Instead of supernatural
- Abstract forces.
- Power or Force.

The Positive Stage.

- Scientific stage,
- Observation, reasoning.
- Same mind- positive stage
- In simple, general sciences.
- Metaphysical- more complex sciences.
- Theological: social sciences.
 Concept of positivism:
- Knowledge derived from sensory
experience.
- Positivism to analyze social
phenomena.

Salient features of positivism:

- Emphasis on exact, objective
knowledge.
- Social phenomena based on definite
laws.
- Observation, experimentation and
 Hierarchy of Sciences:
- Five Sciences: Mathematics,
Astronomy, Natural Science
(Chemistry, Physics), Biology
(Botany, Zoology) and Sociology.
- Mathematics is the oldest- highest
perfection.
- After Maths, Astronomy, Physics,
Chemistry
- Latest Science- Sociology.
 Religious humanity:
- F.S Marvin mentions 4 points of
Comtes thought:
1. First is humanity.
2. Science as directing force.
3. Synthesis- science to be integrated.
4. Faith needed for prediction of
Science.