Auguste Comte's social philosophy
focused on the transformation of society from military power and religion to
science and industry, rather than the coexistence of various social types. He
applied the organic analogy, where no part has existence outside of the whole,
and argued that social phenomena can only be understood in context of
associated aspects, including history. This led to the development of an
organic analogy and the holistic method later adopted by structural
functionalists.
Comte also postulated a stage-by-stage theory of progress, which was the basis
of classical evolutionary theories. He believed that all human society is one
entity, and differences are only at various levels of progress. The level at
which European society was existing or making a transition was preceded by
earlier stages. Comte's positivist method of observation, experimentation, and
analysis signified the western scientific approach was possible only in the
last stage of human progress.
Comte believed that nothing was achievable by human agency and that historical
events took their own course, subject to natural laws. Sociology for him was
the laws of historical development. When humans had imperfect understanding of
their environment, they worshipped anthropomorphic beings, altered objects of
worship, and eventually reached a reasoned understanding of their environment
in the form of science. Society moved towards industrialization and emphasis on
economy and trade rather than war.
However, most industrialized societies have always shown themselves to be more
prone to warfare and science never replaced religion as a central concern of
human beings. Comte believed that a systematic study of society should be
called sociology, although Montesquieu led the way in terms of the comparative
method.
Saint-Simon, Comte's mentor and teacher, was considered the real father of
positivism. He believed that society or institutions were only epiphenomenons
of ideas and that monarchy needed to be replaced by industry. In his view of
social transformation, organic or stable periods were marked by a breakdown of
existing social relationships and the forging of new ones.
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