Auguste Comte
Auguste Comte
Isidore Auguste Marie François Xavier Comte, better known as Auguste Comte, was a French philosopher. He was a founder of the discipline of sociology and of the doctrine of positivism. He is sometimes regarded as the first philosopher of science in the modern sense of the term...
NationalityFrench
ProfessionSociologist
Date of Birth17 February 1798
CountryFrance
Auguste Comte quotes about
mean research mathematics
In mathematics we find the primitive source of rationality; and to mathematics must the biologists resort for means to carry out their researches.
knowledge mean law
In the final, the positive, state, the mind has given over the vain search after absolute notions, the origin and destination of the universe, and the causes of phenomena, and applies itself to the study of their laws-that is, their invariable relations of succession and resemblance. Reasoning and observation, duly combined, are the means of this knowledge. What is now understood when we speak of an explanation of facts is simply the establishment of a connection between single phenomena and some general facts.
moving mean order
The mathematical thermology created by Fourier may tempt us to hope that, as he has estimated the temperature of the space in which we move, me may in time ascertain the mean temperature of the heavenly bodies: but I regard this order of facts as for ever excluded from our recognition. We can never learn their internal constitution, nor, in regard to some of them, how heat is absorbed by their atmosphere. We may therefore define Astronomy as the science by which we discover the laws of the geometrical and mechanical phenomena presented by the heavenly bodies.
certain determination exist means object phenomena relations science
Indeed, every true science has for its object the determination of certain phenomena by means of others, in accordance with the relations which exist between them.
philosophy political-language causes
The word right should be excluded from political language, as the word cause from the language of philosophy.
philosophy men thinking
Men are not allowed to think freely about chemistry and biology: why should they be allowed to think freely about political philosophy?
law history firsts
History has now been for the first time systematically considered, and has been found, like other phenomena, subject to invariable laws.
heaven atheism kepler
The heavens declare the glory of Kepler and Newton.
philosophy views space
Monotheism occupies so large a space in the view of modern minds, that it is scarcely possible to form a just estimate of the preceding phases of the theological philosophy.
real race life-is
The only real life is the collective life of the race; individual life has no existence except as an abstraction.
views may next
After Montesquieu, the next great addition to Sociology (which is the term I may be allowed to invent to designate Social Physics) was made by Condorcet, proceeding on the views suggested by his illustrious friend Turgot.
community use treasure
Language forms a kind of wealth, which all can make use of at once without causing any diminution of the store, and which thus admits a complete community of enjoyment; for all, freely participating in the general treasure, unconsciously aid in its preservation.
analysis aberration impossible
Every attempt to employ mathematical methods in the study of chemical questions must be considered profoundly irrational and contrary to the spirit of chemistry.... if mathematical analysis should ever hold a prominent place in chemistry -- an aberration which is happily almost impossible -- it would occasion a rapid and widespread degeneration of that science.
knowledge-is-power
Foreknowledge is power.