Auguste comte sociology biography and history summary

Auguste comte contributions to sociology pdf

He is often regarded as the first philosopher of science in the modern sense of the term. Influenced by Henri de Saint-Simon , [ 1 ] Comte's work attempted to remedy the social disorder caused by the French Revolution , which he believed indicated an imminent transition to a new form of society. He sought to establish a new social doctrine based on science, which he labeled positivism.

He had a major impact on 19th-century thought, influencing the work of social thinkers such as John Stuart Mill and George Eliot. Comte's social theories culminated in his " Religion of Humanity ", [ 1 ] which presaged the development of non-theistic religious humanist and secular humanist organizations in the 19th century. Following his return to Montpellier, Comte soon came to see unbridgeable differences with his Catholic and monarchist family and set off again for Paris, earning money by small jobs.

Comte had abandoned Catholicism under the influence of his first teacher and protestant pastor Daniel Encontre. In August he found an apartment at 36 Rue Bonaparte in Paris's 6th arrondissement where he lived until Later that year he became a student and secretary to Henri de Saint-Simon , who brought Comte into contact with intellectual society and greatly influenced his thought therefrom.

In , Comte left Saint-Simon, again because of unbridgeable differences. His day-to-day life depended on sponsors and financial help from friends. Debates rage as to how much Comte appropriated the work of Saint-Simon.