Comte’s philosophy became known as
positivism—a belief that the world can best
be understood through scientific inquiry. He
believed that positivism had two dimensions:
(1) methodological—the application of scientific
knowledge to both physical and social phenomena—
and (2) social and political—the use of such knowledge
to predict the likely results of diff erent policies
so that the best one could be chosen.
Social analysts have praised Comte for his advocacy
of sociology and his insights regarding linkages
between the social structural elements of society
(such as family, religion, and government) and
social thinking in specific historical periods. However,
a number of contemporary sociologists argue
that Comte contributed to an overemphasis on the
“natural science model” and focused on the experiences
of a privileged few, to the exclusion by class,
gender, race, ethnicity, and age of all others.