The philosophy of Comte, holding that the highest or only form of knowledge is the description of sensory phenomena. Comte held that there were three stages of human belief: the theological, the metaphysical, and finally the positive, so-called because it confined itself to what is positively given, avoiding all speculation. Comte's position is a version of traditional empiricism, without the tendencies to idealism or scepticism that the position attracts. In his own writings the belief is associated with optimism about the scope of science and the benefits of a truly scientific sociology. In the 19th century, positivism also became associated with evolution-ary theory, and any resolutely naturalistic treatment of human affairs. Its descendants include the philosophy of Mach, and logical positivism . For legal positivism see law, philosophy of.
Philosophy dictionary. Academic. 2011.