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Who is Auguste Comte?

Auguste Comte (1798-1857)

* Considered to be the 'Father of Sociology'.

* First philosopher to use this term for the scientific study of social phenomenon.

* Founder of Positivism, which emphasised that reliable empirical data should be the basis of all knowledge.

* Stressed that society operates on the same principles as the natural world and therefore could be studied in a similar scientific manner.

* Suggested the human intellect passes through three distinct stages:

- Religious or Theological Stage

- Metaphysical or Abstract Stage

- Scientific or Positivist Stage

* Believed that society also evolves in an orderly and progressive way. His Law of Three Stages reflects his evolutionary view:

- Theological

- Metaphysical

- Positive

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