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Founder of Positivism

By Student Mike

  • Birth

    Auguste Comte born on January 20, 1798

  • His great plan

    1822 creates “Plan for the Scientific Work Necessary to Reorganize Society”. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhVamhT4Q3s

  • 1826 begins teaching the law of the three stages

    The 1st stage is the Theological. Comte stated the theological stage is a necessary starting point for the mind. In this stage the mind explains the world as the work or acts of supernatural beings.

  • Mental Breakdown

    1826 Comte is admitted to mental institution. Over the next 3 years his wife Caroline Massin helps him to return to teaching.

  • 1826 begins teaching the law of the three stages continued

    The 2nd stage is the Metaphysical. Comte viewed this stage as only transitory allowing the mind to go from the 1st stage to the 3rd and stage. In this stage instead of supernatural beings the mind uses abstract entities. The 3rd stage is the Positive State. In this stage Comte taught that the mind stops looking for causes of phenomena and limits itself strictly to laws governing them.

  • Teacher again

    1829 resumes teaching.

  • Publisher

    First of a series of text is published on Positivism. (1830–1842, six volumes)

  • Sociology

    1838 Comte is the first to use the term “sociology. Comte divided sociology into two main areas’: social statics, the study of effects that hold society together; and social dynamics, the study of what causes social change. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTMbaRrchfE

  • Foundation of a Religion

    1841 Comte begins teaching the Evolution of Humanity; he would use these ideas as the premises of what would become his Religion of Humanity. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6TrSQQIdSc

  • Math

    1843 Comte published an Elementary Treatise on Analytic Geometry (1843) his only mathematical work.

  • Space

    1844 Comte publishes the Philosophical Treatise on Popular Astronomy.

  • Positivist Calendar

    1848: he founded the Positivist Society. He published the General View of Positivism, as well as publishing the Positivist Calendar.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofmnGmI115E

  • Religion

    In 1849, he founded the Religion of Humanity. Published Treatise on Sociology, Instituting the Religion of Humanity, (1851–1854, four volumes)

  • Death

    Auguste Comte dies September 5, 1857.

  • My Sources

    Michel Bourdeau. “Auguste Comte”, https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/comte/
    “Auguste Comte”, https://www.studysmarter.us/explanations/social-studies/famous-sociologists/auguste-comte/