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Auguste Comte birth
Born to a devoutly religious family in 1798, much of his life was spent in and out of asylums and in general disagreement and rebellion to the things going on around him.
Most of his psychological work was focused on what he called "Positivism" which believed that all knowledge is true by definition or positive (derived from objective sensory experience). That sounds good at first, but he seems to have had a hard time accepting life.
Humanism -
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Mental and Relational Problems
Reading about Comte, one will see terms such as "unbridgeable differences" many times. He seemed to have a hard time getting along with the people in his life, and the world around him.
He married Caroline Massin in 1825, checked into an asylum in 1826, and attempted to kill himself in 1827. Their marriage was fraught with conflict and struggles. They finally divorced in 1842.
In 1844 he became obsessed with Clotilde de Vaux, though she firmly rejected him. She died in 1846 of consumption. -
Law of Three Stages
In his work The Course in Positive Philosophy, Comte argues that society as a whole, and each individual science develops through 3 stages:
1. Theological Stage- People attribute all experience to a god.
2. Metaphysical Stage- Abstract concepts, philosophy driven development
3. Positive/Scientific Stage- knowledge is derived from objective, measurable observance.
3 Stages
Comte, Auguste and Harriet Martineau. The Positive Philosophy.. New York, AMS Press, 1974. -
Functionalism
Comte developed an interesting division of the sciences, check out this video. For all of his weirdness, and flaws, he had good thoughts on science. He was a complex man, with complex thoughts.
Early Functionalism -
The Religion of Humanity
In the 1840's Comte developed a religion where he wanted a system of morals, values, order, consolation, and love, but completely divorced from any from of deity. It is sad that he realized the human need for all of the benefits of God's grace, but rejected God Himself. He died of stomach cancer in 1857.
"Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?" 1Cor 1:20
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