Auguste Comte Theory on Sociology free essay sample

Furthermore, Comte argued that sociology could become a social physics — i. e. , a social science on a par with the most positivistic of sciences, physics. Comte believed that sociology would eventually occupy the very pinnacle of a hierarchy of sciences. Comte also identified four methods of sociology. To this day, in their inquiries sociologists continue to use the methods of observation, experimentation, comparison, and historical research. While Comte did write about methods of research, he most often engaged in speculation or theorizing in order to attempt to discover invariant laws of the social world.Comtes famed law of the three stages is an example of his search for invariant laws governing the social world. Comte argued that the human mind, individual human beings, all knowledge, and world history develop through three successive stages. The theological stage is dominated by a search for the essential nature of things, and people come to believe that all phenomena are created and influenced by gods and supernatural forces. We will write a custom essay sample on Auguste Comte Theory on Sociology or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Monotheism is the ultimate belief of the theological stage. The metaphysical stage is a transitional stage in which mysterious, abstract forces (e. g. nature) replace supernatural forces as the powers that explain the workings of the world. The positivist stage is the last and highest stage in Comtes work. In this stage, people search for invariant laws that govern all of the phenomena of the world. Comte also used the term positivism in a second sense; that is, as a force that could counter the negativism of his times. In Comtes view, most of Western Europe was mired in political and moral disorder that was a consequence of the French Revolution of 1789. Positivism, in Comtes philosophy, would bring order and progress to the European crisis of ideas.Comtes philosophical idealism thus separates his views from those of his contemporary Karl Marx (1818-1883), who was a materialist. Comtes Sociology Comte separated social statics from social dynamics. Social statics are concerned with the ways in which the parts of a social system (social structures) interact with one another, as well as the functional relationships between the parts and to the social system as a whole. Comte therefore focused his social statics on the individual, as well as such collective phenomena as the family, religion, language, and the division of labor.Comte placed greater emphasis on the study of social dynamics, or social change. His theory of social dynamics is founded on the law of the three stages; i. e. , the evolution of society is based on the evolution of mind through the theological, metaphysical, and positivist stages. He saw social dynamics as a process of progressive evolution in which people become cumulatively more intelligent and in which altruism eventually triumphs over egoism. This process is one that people can modify or accelerate, but in the end the laws of progressive development dictate the development of society.Comtes research on social evolution focused on Western Europe, which he viewed as the most highly developed part of the world during his times. Theory and Practice and Comtes Vision of the Future Comte believed that positivism could both advance science (theory) and change the ways people live their lives (practice). He argued that the upper classes of his time were far too conservative to advocate positivistic change. Women and the members of the working class, however, were well situated to advocate positivism and help to implement its programs of change.Comte viewed the working class as agents of positivistic change because of their ties of affection to their families, res pect for authority, exposure to misery, and propensity for self-sacrifice. Comte thought of his positivism as a counter-force against communism, although the latter could provide a foundation for the former. Comte thought that women would support his positivist program for change largely because women, in his view, were more affectionate, altruistic, and feeling than men.He tended to view men as superior in intellectual and practical matters, and thus better suited to planning and supervising change, while women are better suited to moral matters. Comte did not believe in the equality of the sexes. He saw himself and his proteges as the priests of humanity who would oversee the religion of positivism. Some of Comtes most amusing ideas are found in his plans for the future. Comte envisioned a positivist calendar, public holidays, and temples. He elaborated a plan for his positivist society that included important roles for bankers and industrialists, positivist priests, merchants, manufacturers, and farmers. Comte also envisioned a positivist library of 100 books — titles that he personally selected. He argued that reading other works would contaminate the minds of the people. He also planned to restructure the family to include a father, mother, three children, and paternal grandparents. Comtes Positive Contributions and Weaknesses Ritzer and Goodman identify eight positive contributions that Comte made to sociology