A General View of Positivism

by Auguste Comte

Overview

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. Comte believes that society evolves through a series of stages that are ruled by social laws and culminate in a superior form of social life. Positivism itself is a combination of philosophy and way of life. Comte goes into surprising detail, going so far as to describe minute like how children should be educated, the structure of a unified global committee of nations, new flags, calendars, the role of the arts, and so on. He ends the book with what he calls the 'Religion of Humanity,' a secular religion meant to replace the traditional religions that people of the time were becoming disillusioned with.
Comte was born around the end of the French Revolution, and lived in Paris during that time when republican ideas, respect for science, and a revolutionary and forward-thinking spirit made fertile ground for change.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9789388760379
Publisher:	GENERAL PRESS
Publication date:	02/19/2019
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	240
File size:	662 KB

Read an Excerpt

these two elements, once established, is in little danger of being disturbed. For since it is equally favourable to both of them, both will be interested in maintaining it. The fact that Reason in modern times has become habituated to revolt, is no ground for supposing that it will always retain its revolutionary character, even when its legitimate claims have been fully satisfied. Supposing the case to arise, however, society, as I shall show afterwards, would not be without the means of repressing any pretensions that were subversive of order. There is another point of view which may assure us that the position given to the heart under the new system will involve no danger to the growth of intellect. Love, when real, ever desires light, in order to attain its ends. The influence of true feeling is as favourable to sound thought as to wise activity. Our doctrine, therefore, is one which ren- na™nofOithe ders hypocrisy and oppression alike impossible. nislhs And it now stands forward as the result of all ££'"f ?osili- the efforts of the past, for the regeneration of Um- order, which, whether considered individually or socially, is so deeply compromised by the anarchy of the present time. It establishes a fundamental principle by which true philosophy and sound polity are brought into correlation ; a principle which can be felt as well as proved, and which is at once the key-stone of a system and a basis of government. I shall show, moreover, in the fifth chapter that the doctrine is as rich in esthetic beauty as in philosophical power and in social influence. This will complete the proof of its efficacy as the centre of a universal system. Viewed from the moral,scientific, or poetical aspect, it is equally valuable; and it is the only principle which can bring Humanity safely ...

Table of Contents

1. Intellectual character of positivism; 2. The social aspect of positivism; 3. The action of positivism upon the working classes; 4. The influence of positivism upon women; 5. The relation of positivism to art; 6. Conclusion. The religion of humanity.