A General View of Positivism

What It's About

Originally serving as the introduction to Comte's four-volume System of Positive Polity, this work applies his philosophical system to the practical conditions of society. Comte sets out the intellectual foundations of positivism before turning to how it might be put into practice — addressing politics, industry, the family, and the arts, and arguing for a reorganisation of society guided by scientific reasoning rather than theology or metaphysics.

Key Concepts

Central to the work is Comte's "law of three stages," by which human thought progresses from theological to metaphysical to positive (scientific) explanation. He argues that reason should guide the intellect while feeling — particularly altruism — should guide conduct, summed up in his motto "Love, Order, Progress." To provide a moral and social focus for this system, Comte proposes a secular "Religion of Humanity," which venerates human cooperation and achievement in place of traditional religious worship. He also assigns particular importance to the moral influence of women and the social role of the working class in bringing about this new order.

About the Author

Auguste Comte (1798–1857) was a French philosopher generally regarded as the founder of positivism and credited with coining the term "sociology."

About This Edition

This is a 1907 translation by J. H. Bridges.