Positivism
Only scientific knowledge based on experience is reliable; metaphysics is a stage to outgrow
Key ideas
- The law of three stages: theological, metaphysical, positive
- Society is studied by the science of sociology
- A hierarchy of sciences from mathematics to sociology
- "Know in order to foresee"
Key thinkers
- Auguste Comte (founder) — French philosopher, founder of positivism and sociology, 1798–1857
- John Stuart Mill — English philosopher and economist, 1806–1873
Grew out of
- The Enlightenment c. 1685 – 1815 · Europe
- British empiricism c. 1620 – 1780 · Europe
What grew out of it
- Logical positivism c. 1924 – 1960 · Europe
Meanwhile elsewhere
- Confucianism Asia
- Buddhist philosophy Asia
- Taoism Asia
- Nyaya Asia
- Madhyamaka Asia
- Yogachara Asia
- Chan and Zen Asia
- Advaita Vedanta Asia
- Kalam Middle East
- Neo-Confucianism Asia
- American transcendentalism Americas
- Russian religious philosophy Eastern Europe & Russia
- Pragmatism Americas
- Russian cosmism Eastern Europe & Russia