Auguste Comte and Positivism

"Auguste Comte and Positivism" by John Stuart Mill is a mid-19th century philosophical text that takes a close look at Auguste Comte's positivism, a belief system stating that real knowledge comes only from what we can see and prove. Mill breaks down Comte's ideas, pointing out both what makes sense and what doesn't, particularly when it comes to how sciences grow and are categorized. The book starts by explaining how positivism became a popular way of thinking, pushing back against older ideas rooted in theology and abstract thought. Mill emphasizes Comte's concept that human understanding develops in stages: first through religious explanations, then philosophical ones, and finally by focusing on what can be observed. Mill's goal is to clarify Comte's arguments and carefully weigh the good and bad sides of positivism as a way to understand society and science.