Auguste Comte, a French sociologist who lived from 1798 to 1857, laid the foundation of sociology. His principles are based on the positivism philosophy, where knowledge is scientific and not theological. An example principle is secularization, which he identifies as the concept where religious interpretations become increasingly trivial because of modern science. This philosophy is influenced by beliefs during the Enlightenment as Comte lived through the Age of Reason, shaping his thoughts to be more rational and objective. However, he does admit that religious knowledge is a precondition for scientific knowledge because religious ideas are used as a base for the evolution of scientific ideas; religious theories are investigated, extended, and amended by scientists and contemporary thinkers to develop into modern notions.

Auguste Comte created “The Law of 3 Stages,” which demonstrates the constant relationship he makes between religion and science. The 1st of the three stages is the theological stage; this is where god is the reason for actions that happen in the world, and where people’s lifestyles are heavily influenced by religious ways. The 2nd stage is the metaphysical stage, where explanations are abstract and human minds become philosophical. It is additionally known as the transitional stage between the theological stage and the positivist stage because answers to questions are preferred to not be intertwined with religious concepts or scientific conjectures. Finally, the last is the positive stage. In this stage, both knowledge is solidified and interpretations are reasoned through scientific methods and empirical testing. Ultimately, the goal of Comte’s law is to move society to an intellectually modest direction.

Not only did Comte establish “The Law of 3 Stages,” but he also set up a law called the “Hierarchical Classification of the Sciences.” This organized ranking of the sciences starts with mathematics at the bottom and ends with sociology at the top, going in an order from independent sciences to dependent sciences. Because sociology is the most dependent upon the other sciences, it is the most encompassing and complex science.

Comte’s works are centered on positivism, as he believes in unbiased and factual knowledge, and the relationship between the two realms of religion and science. Although he does conclude that the idea that sociology is based on scientific principles rather than religious theories, he still acknowledges that theological ideas are a prerequisite for scientific ideas. In the end, Comte is an idealist, believing that societies are based on human ideas; without his theories, sociology would not be what it is today.