Sociology / Unit 1 Soc 0016 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Auguste Comte and Positivism
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The idea
Auguste Comte coined the term sociology in 1838 and argued society could be studied with the methods used on the physical world — a position called positivism.
In practice
A researcher today testing whether a policy works by measuring outcomes, not by argument alone, is applying Comte's premise.
Where people slip
Comte coined the term; he did not do sociology's first empirical research.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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