The law of three stages
Comte held that the mind passes through the theological (appeal to gods), the metaphysical (appeal to abstract essences) and the positive (appeal to observable law) — and that the age of science would at last arrive.
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Comte
Founder of positivism and sociology
Those Who Ground an Idea Into a Whole System · Disciples & School-Builders
PositivismSociologyLaw of three stages
Who they are
Comte (1798–1857), the French philosopher who coined the word "sociology," held that human knowledge passes through theological, metaphysical and positive (scientific) stages, and that only knowledge grounded in observation and law is reliable. He sought to rebuild society on science and is a founder of the modern social sciences.
Primary sourcesComte, Course of Positive Philosophy
Key stories
Relationships
Disciple
Echoes today
Below are how modern works borrow or reinterpret this name or story — not the original material. The two differ, so keep them apart.
SociologyHe coined "sociology" and is a founder of the modern social sciences.