1798-1857. French philosopher, regarded as
the founder of sociology, a term he coined
1830. He sought to establish sociology as an
intellectual discipline, using a scientific
approach (`positivism') as the basis of a new
science of social order and social
development. Comte, born in Montpellier, was
expelled from the Paris E<a1>cole
Polytechnique for leading a student revolt in
1816. In 1818 he became secretary to the
socialist Saint-Simon and was much influenced
by him. He began lecturing on the `Positive
Philosophy' in 1826, but almost immediately
succumbed to a nervous disorder and once
tried to commit suicide in the Seine. On his
recovery he resumed his lectures and
mathematical teaching. In his six-volume
Cours de philosophie positive 1830-42 he
argued that human thought and social
development evolve through three stages: the
theological, the metaphysical, and the
positive or scientific. Although he
originally sought to proclaim society's
evolution to a new golden age of science,
industry, and rational morality, his radical
ideas were increasingly tempered by the
political and social upheavals of his time.
His influence, however, continued in Europe
and the US until the early 20th century.