Auguste Comte’s Positivism: Philosophy & Stages
Auguste Comte and Positivism
Auguste Comte, born in Montpellier, denied violence and defended the need “to consolidate all power in the hands of those who possess it, no matter who,” provided it aligned with the progressive ideals of the Enlightenment, and not with monarchical reaction.
Comte’s Philosophical Stance
Under the impact of the French Revolution, Comte came into contact with utopian socialism and eventually became pragmatic. He distinguished between two interpretations of the dialectic: one chosen by revolutionary Marxism and anarchism, and another, a reformist possibility, which Comte embraced, opting for reform without revolutionary upheaval. The consistency of these two great crises of existence must be understood.
The first critical attitude emphasized the destruction of existing order and the building of a new one. The second characterized reformist attitudes. Comte rejected criticism that separated the existing from the organic. He envisioned a new era defined by “order and progress.”
For Comte’s philosophy, order is always the fundamental condition of progress, and conversely, progress becomes necessary for order.
The Three Stages of Human Development
Historically, Comte proposed three successive stages of human intellectual development:
- Theological Stage (thesis)
- Metaphysical Stage (antithesis)
- Positive Stage (synthesis)
Theological Stage (Infancy)
The cultivation of religion, according to Comte, stemmed from human ignorance and the need for groups to invoke a common conviction. This religious stage, Comte explained, would pass through three sub-stages: fetishism, polytheism, and monotheism, characterized by a trust in divine power.
Metaphysical Stage (Youth)
Mankind, having previously trusted in God, then turned to reason to seek the ultimate meaning of things. However, this stage remained abstract, not yet embracing positive thought. Comte associated this stage with a focus on metaphysical essences that did not directly correspond to observable phenomena.
Positive Stage (Adulthood)
Comte described the Positive Stage as the “adult” stage—autocentric and Promethean. It is characterized by human beings abandoning the search for hidden or mysterious realities and forgetting God, instead seeking the ‘how’ of things rather than the ‘why’.
Humanity as the Ultimate Goal
Inhumanity would disappear in favor of humanity. For Comte, progress meant reaching the full human essence.
Purpose of Positivism
Positivism sought social engineering, or “social physics,” implying that the same laws governing the physical world also govern society. Its aim was to raise living standards, promote comfort, and foster a practical wisdom that would transform Earth into a “heaven” for humanity, having abandoned any concern for the transcendent. Positivism itself would become a new “Religion of Humanity.”
Influence and Works
Clotilde de Vaux was actively involved in the emergence and development of certain Comtean conceptions. Comte’s grand project was conceived to definitively establish the true self of humanity, both in theory and in practice.
Comte’s Principal Works:
- Course of Positive Philosophy
- System of Positive Polity, or Treatise on Sociology, Instituting the Religion of Humanity
- Positivist Catechism
- Positive Calendar
- Discourse on the Positive Spirit