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POSITIVISMSociologyindex, Verstehen, Positive School, Sociology Books 2011, Positivism Positivism places science in a privileged position; assumes the possibility of a scientific understanding of human and social behaviour; assumes the separation of knowledge and power; and assumes the possibility of objectivity and impartiality. Positivism shaped sociology for 100 years. In contemporary social science debate, however, positivism has become a term of abuse. A philosophical system elaborated by Auguste Comte, recognizing only positive facts and observable phenomena and rejecting metaphysics and theism; a humanistic religious system founded on this philosophy. Also, the belief that every intelligible proposition can
be scientifically verified or falsified, and that philosophy can only be concerned with
the analysis of the language used to express such propositions. Comte's positivist philosophy attempted to define the laws of social evolution and to found a genuine social science that could be used for social reconstruction. Major works include his Cours de philosophie positive (1830-42) and Systeme de politique positive (1851-4). All of the assumptions that Comte makes are now rejected by postmodernists. Comte begins by imposing meaning on history, arguing that societies evolve through three stages: the theological stage, the metaphysical stage and the positive (or scientific) stage.
Each of these stages is reproduced in the evolution of the human mind. The human mind, and the most privileged among these was the sociologist, would use the scientific method to arrive at an understanding of the universal laws of social development. Comte argues against democratic discourse in the belief that parties involved in the political process are always committed to a particular viewpoint. Only science can rise above the local and particular and understand impartially. The application of this knowledge to society would enable the liberation of individuals.
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