Contribution of August Comte in the Field of Sociology

Jaya Kosley,

Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur

ABSTRACT:

Article on contribution of August Comte in the field of sociology: This article tell us about the contribution of August Comte in the field of sociology through his Work and by being the father of the “Sociology”

KEY WORDS:

INTRODUCTION:

"The philosophers have only interpreted the world, in various ways; the point is, however, to change it."

Karl Marx

Marxism is the science of perspectives - looking forward to anticipate how society will develop - using its method of dialectical materialism to unravel the complex processes of historical development.

Dialectical materialism is a strand of Marxist theorizing, composed of a synthesis of Hegel's dialectics and Ludwig Andreas Feuerbach's materialism, based upon an interpretation of Karl Marx's work. It is the philosophical basis of Marxism, although this remains a controversial assertion due to the disputed status of science and naturalism in Marx's thought. The basic idea of dialectical materialism is that every economic order grows to a state of maximum efficiency, while at the same time developing internal contradictions or weaknesses that contribute to its decay. Dialectical materialism thus provides an intellectual starting point for opposition to creeds that would order and oppress humanity in the name of something perfect.[i]Since the beginning, Marxism has been influenced by dialecticalmaterialism [ii] neo-Marxist thinkers have built on these works and contributed useful progressive theories to the debate.

Dialectical materialism originates from two major aspects of Marx's philosophy. One is his transformation of Hegel's idealistic understanding of dialectics into a materialist one, an act commonly said to have "put Hegel's dialectics back on its feet". Marx's materialism developed through his engagement with Feuerbach. Marx sought to base human social organization within the context of the material reproduction of their daily lives, which he calls sensous practice in his early works. From this material context men develop certain ideas about their world, thereby leading to the core materialist conception that social being determines social consciousness. The dialectical aspect retains the Hegelian method within this materialist framework, and emphasizes the process of historical change arising from contradiction and class struggle based in a particular social context.

His contribution to sociology can be divided into four categories. They are namely:-

(1) Classification and ordering of social sciences.

(2) The nature, method and scope of sociology.

(3) The law of three stages.

(4) The plan for social reconstruction.

(5) Positivism

Stage	Time Period	Ruled or Dominated	Dominate Social Unit
Theological –Fictitious	From the dawn of man	Priest Military	Family
Metaphysical –Abstract	Middle Ages Renaissance	Churchmen Lawyers	State
Scientific --Positive	Industrialization	Industrial Administrators Scientific Moral Guides	Entire Human Race

He is the “Father of sociology;” French philosopher who asserted that the fate of mankind depends in many respects upon the development of a science of human social relationships, that establish scientific disciplines have progressed only to the degree that they have been grounded in facts and experience, and that therefore the needed new science of human social relationships should adopt the study and experimental techniques of the physical sciences

As early as 1822, when he was still an apprentice to Saint-Simon, Comte set himself the task “to discover through what fixed series of successive transformations the human race, starting from a state not superior to that of the great apes, gradually led to the point at which civilized finds itself today” Applying what he conceived to be a method of scientific comparison through time, Comte emerged with his central conception, is “The Law of Three Stages”.

Comte’s second best known theory, “Hierarchy of the Sciences”, is connected with the Law of Human Progress. The social sciences, the most complex and the most dependent for their emergence on the development of all others, are the “highest” in the hierarchy.

Sociology (Social Sciences)

Biology

Chemistry

Physics

Astronomy

After this the third theory which came to known is the theory of positivism. The dawn of 19th century marked the beginning of this stage. It is characterised by scientific knowledge. In this stage, human mind gave up the taken for granted approach. At this stage, human mind tried to establish cause and affect relationship. Scientific knowledge is based on facts. Facts are collected by observation and classification of phenomena. Positivism is a purely intellectual way of looking at the world. Positivism emphasises on observation and classification of data and facts. One can observe uniformities or laws about natural as well as social phenomena. Positivistic thinking is best suited to the need of industrial society.

Received on 20.02.2012

Revised on 16.03.2012

Accepted on 23.03.2012