the conservative reaction auguste comte (1798-1857) background catholic “at the wrong time,” in...

The Conservative Reaction

Auguste Comte (1798-1857)

Background• Catholic “at the wrong time,” in

that political viewpoints associated with the Church were in favor.

Background•Catholic “at the wrong time,” in that political viewpoints associated with the Church were in favor.



Background• Opposed to the excesses of

of the Revolution.• Social order paramount.• Ecole Polytechnique: Military efficiency and

preeminence of science.• Secretary to Saint-Simon (1817).

• Similar beliefs about society.• Comte preferred more positivist approach.



Background• Breaks with Saint-Simon (1824).• Mental breakdown (1826).• “Cerebral hygiene.”• Not popular in scientific community.• Death of Clotilde: Emotion over intellect,

feeling over mind.• “Founder of Universal Religion, Great

Priest of Humanity.”• The new order: The Positivist Society.



Intellectual Influences• Social order.• Science of society.• Hobbes, Kant, Saint-Simon.• Empirical approach to society

• Observe structure and function to predict future events.

• Critical of Enlightenment individualism.



Intellectual Influences• Pascal: Continuity of history.• Turgot: Three stages of history.• Montesquieu: Laws of society.• Condorcet: Progress through science.

• Use science to understand the laws of society.• Use science to predict the future of society.• Apply science to directing society.

• de Bonald and de Maistre: Negative reaction to the French Revolution: Need to restore order.



Intellectual Influences• The tradition of order:

• Social contracts did not work.• Men had duties, not rights.• Society perfects man.

• The tradition of liberalism• Laissez faire economics (Adam Smith)

is a system conducive to anarchy.• Division of labor, on the other hand,

awakens social cooperation.



Concepts and Contributions• Coined term: Sociology.• The “social physics” of society.• Reject metaphysics and theology.• Science should intervene for the

betterment of society.• Positivism: study society in the same

manner as the natural sciences:• Natural laws.• Objective observation.



Concepts and Contributions• Law of three stages

1. Theological: Rule by religion.2. Metaphysical: Rule by mystics.3. Positive: Reason, observation, natural laws

of society that can predict future events.• Research Methods

1. Observation.2. Experimentation.3. Comparison.4. Historical.



Concepts and Contributions• Social Statics (“anatomy”)

1. Social structure.2. Unit of observation is individual.3. Processes that hold society together.4. Humans must cooperate with one another.5. Government functions for the benefit of the

whole. 6. Subordination to government is necessary to

achieve consensus.



Concepts and Contributions• Social Statics (“anatomy”)

1. Consensus universalis.2. Necessary for solidarity.3. Foundation for the division of labor.

• Importance of the family for maintaining consensus and social solidarity.



Concepts and Contributions• Social Dynamics (“physiology”)

1. Social change.2. Progress through science.3. Change is evolutionary.4. Dynamic equilibrium of alterations within the

rule of government and social order.5. Change came about as a result of a need to

refine structure to adapt to new needs in society.



Concepts and Contributions• Hierarchy of the Sciences

1. Mathematics.*2. Astronomy.3. Physics.4. Biology.5. Chemistry.6. Sociology: The queen of the sciences.

• Sociology is the most complex of the sciences.



Concepts and Contributions• Division of Labor

1. Creates solidarity.2. Tasks suitable to talents.3. Parts function for the benefit of the whole.

• Religion of Humanity1. Religion contributes to social stability.2. Need to move away from theocracy.3. Positive religion: Humanistic approach.4. The “new clergy” were sociologists.



Concepts and Contributions• Race, Class, Women

1. Romanticized the working class.2. Positivism over communism:

• Positivism focused on morals.• Positivism encouraged individuality.• Positivism esteems leaders of industry.• Positivism encourage inheritance to

provide historical continuity.3. Women’s “affectional” component was a

critical piece of positivism: order over self.



Concepts and Contributions• Language

1. Binds us to one another.2. Promotes unity.3. Allows for interaction.4. Continuity of traditions.5. Without language, solidarity, consensus, and

social order would be impossible.



Concepts and Contributions• Theory

1. Necessary for observation.2. Ideas guide science.3. Science guides society.

• Organic Analogy1. Society is like a living organism.2. The advancement of the organism through

the three stages (for individuals and societies) is a progression of ideas.



Relevancy• “Sociology.”• Functionalism.• Laws of society.• Positivism: the importance of scientific methods.• Social statics and social dynamics.• Focus on the practical applications of science.• Focus on macro-structures gives Comte’s

sociology a strong historical perspective.• Last Line: Focus on his science, ignore his

advocacy as the “Great Priest of Humanity.”



Philosophy

• Realism vs. Idealism• Realism, because he believed

that society had laws that couldbe discovered.

• Realism vs. Nominalism• Realism, because Comte believed that

abstract ideas, such as “social contract,” were real in their consequences.



Philosophy

• Idealism vs. Materialism• Idealist in noting the importance

of language in forming socialrelationships.

• Materialist in focus upon the functional imperatives of society.



Contemporary Issues

• Strong federal government• Preeminence of scientific over

value-based explanations.• Separation of church and state.• Policy guided by values, but not

by blunders.• Most likely a democrat rather

than a republican.

the conservative reaction auguste comte (1798-1857) background catholic “at the wrong time,” in...

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