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Ideas of Auguste Comte, by Text

[French, 1798 - 1857, Born at Montpellier, France.]

1830	Intro to Positive Philosophy

Ch.1

p.1

12104

All ideas must be understood historically

Ch.1

p.1

12105

Our knowledge starts in theology, passes through metaphysics, and ends in positivism

Ch.1

p.2

12106

Positivism gives up absolute truth, and seeks phenomenal laws, by reason and observation

Ch.1

p.2

12107

Positivism explains facts by connecting particular phenomena with general facts

Ch.1

p.4

12108

All real knowledge rests on observed facts

Ch.1

p.5

12109

We must observe in order to form theories, but connected observations need prior theories

Ch.1

p.5

12110

We can never know origins, purposes or inner natures

Ch.1

p.7

12111

Positivism is the final state of human intelligence

Ch.1

p.8

12112

Metaphysics is just the oversubtle qualification of abstract names for phenomena

Ch.1

p.8

12113

The search for first or final causes is futile

Ch.1

p.17

12114

Science can drown in detail, so we need broad scientists (to keep out the metaphysicians)

Ch.1

p.20

12115

Introspection is pure illusion; we can obviously observe everything except ourselves

Ch.1

p.28

12116

Only positivist philosophy can terminate modern social crises

1846	Course of Positive Philosophy

p.884

7491

The phases of human thought are theological, then metaphysical, then positivist [Watson]