Sociological positivism was derived from the initial scientific idea of positivism. Comte believed that all knowledge must be verified with evidence, and those metaphysics were useless because there are no facts about the universe that cannot be observed. He, therefore, claimed that if we looked at the world objectively, we could see what its laws are, and thus understand how it works. By studying history, he thought we could understand how civilizations rise and fall. He further suggested that we could understand why societies behave the way they do by examining their institutions. Thus, Comte’s views led him to propose that society operated according to discoverable laws. This led to the creation of a number of different scientific methodologies I’m many disciplines, such as sociology, economics, politics, and psychology. Many of these approaches still exist today. Comte’s ideas inspired many scientists, philosophers, and politicians, especially those who wanted to establish a rational basis for government, law, and education. These included Emile Durkheim – who gave sociology the scientific background it has today, Karl Marx – who albeit disapproved but still found positivism relevant to modern societies, and Sigmund Freud – who established the foundation of objective theories in psychology with his psychoanalysis.
Introduction
How do we really define Philosophy? The Greek word φιλοσοφία – Philosophia. Or as the term has been coined by modern Western language – Philosophy. The literal meaning of this word is relatively static. Derived from its Greek origin it comprises two separate words...
