Auguste Comte (17 January 1798 – 5 September 1857) was a French philosopher, the founder of sociology and sociological positivism.
Comte developed sociologie in an attempt to remedy the social malaise left by the French revolution. The discipline was later formally and academically established by Émile Durkheim. Comte attempted to introduce a cohesive "religion of humanity" which, though largely unsuccessful, was influential in the development of...
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Auguste Comte (17 January 1798 – 5 September 1857) was a French philosopher, the founder of sociology and sociological positivism.
Comte developed sociologie in an attempt to remedy the social malaise left by the French revolution. The discipline was later formally and academically established by Émile Durkheim. Comte attempted to introduce a cohesive "religion of humanity" which, though largely unsuccessful, was influential in the development of various secular humanist organizations in the 19th century. He also created and defined the term "altruism."
Comte was born at Montpellier, in southern France. After attending the Lycée Joffre and then the University of Montpellier, one of the oldest European universities, Comte was admitted to the École Polytechnique in Paris. The École Polytechnique was notable for its adherence to the French ideals of republicanism and progress. The École closed in 1816 for reorganization, however, causing Comte to leave and continue his studies at the...
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