This podcast provides an overview of the life and ideas of Auguste Comte, the French philosopher who coined the terms “sociology” and “altruism” and founded Positivism. The podcast explores his concept of the Three-State Law of intellectual development, his relationship with Saint-Simon, and the influence of his ideas, including the creation of a “religion of humanity” with a positivist timetable. Comte’s work, particularly his Course in Positive Philosophy, is discussed, as well as the reception of his theories by figures such as Harriet Martineau and John Stuart Mill, as well as criticisms by later thinkers. The material also features excerpts from Comte’s own works, detailing his views on sociology, the rejection of rights in favor of duties, and the application of the scientific method to the study of society.
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