Positivism

The sacred formula of positivism: love as a principle, the order as a foundation, and progress as a goal.

Auguste Comte

Positivism is a philosophical theory that emphasizes the importance of observable, empirical data as the only valid source of knowledge. It asserts that all meaningful statements are either empirically verifiable or logically necessary, rejecting metaphysical or theological explanations that cannot be tested through scientific methods.

Positivism holds that knowledge comes from empirical, sensory evidence. Observable data, collected through scientific experiments or direct experience, are considered to be the only reliable source of truth.

Positivism rejects metaphysical claims and statements that cannot be measured, observed and directly experienced. Supernatural entities, ultimate causes, inner essences and so on are considered to be unverifiable, untestable, and thus unworthy of research and inquiry.

Scientific method - observation, experimentation, theory formulation, analysis, justification, evidence and verification are central to positivist thought. Positivism asserts that scientific method must be applied to all fields of study, both formal, natural and social sciences, to attain objective truth.

Positivism argues that a statement, to be meaningful, must be verified through either observation or logic. Positivists introduced division between meaningful statements and speculative statements, which are considered to be unnecessary.

According to Comte, human knowledge progresses through three stages:

• Theological stage - In this initial stage, people explain phenomena through religion, supernaturality and theology - events are understood as caused by God, gods or spirits.
• Metaphysical stage - In this stage, people use abstract concepts to explain the world. They no longer rely purely on deities or spirits, but try to explain phenomena by abstract and fixed terms, such as "essence", "nature", "substance", and so on.
• Positive stage - The final stage, where all understanding is based on observation and logic. In this stage, humans try to understand natural and social world through scientific methods.

Comte founded sociology as a scientific branch of inquiry, rather than speculative one. He argued that society operates according to its own laws, just like natural world. These laws are observable and definable, thus they form a cohesive science. By studying sociology, humanity may improve itself.

Comte divided sociology into two stages:

• Social statics - the study of social structures, institutions and their functions.
• Social dynamics - the study of social progress and changes.

Comte coined the religion of humanity; it is supposed to replace traditional religions based on metaphysical beliefs, by a "religion" which focuses on science and progress, but he saw positive part of religion, which is community, altruism, moral teachings and embracing social cohesion.

Comte tried to build a hierarchy of sciences, where one is a foundation of another one. It starts from mathematics, followed by astronomy, physics, chemistry, biology, and ultimately sociology.

Comte believed that scientific research, especially in the field of sociology, can build a coherent ethical system. He claimed that rationality and scientific understanding of human behavior would lead to promotion of values like altruism and unity.

Axel Hägerström was a swedish philosopher who was active during the 19th-20th century. He is known as the founder of the Uppsala School of Philosophy, or Uppsalafilosofin.

Related philosophies: Existentialism, Frankfurt School

Criticism of Positivism or just Anti-Positivism (sometimes called Negativism and Interpretivism) is a critique of the positivist philosophy. It proposes that the social realm cannot be studied with the scientific method of investigation utilized within the natural sciences, and that investigation of the social realm requires a different epistemology. Fundamental to this antipositivist epistemology is the belief that the concepts and language that researchers use in their research shape their perceptions of the social world they are investigating, studying, and defining.

1. Draw a ball
2. Color it dark blue
3. Add a white plus sign in the middle
4. Add the two eyes

You are done!

Color Name		HEX	RGB
	Dark Blue	#11185C	17, 24, 92
	White	#FFFFFF	255, 255, 255

Positivism is an optimistic and intelligent ball, often preoccupied with performing experiments or writing his theories. He believes that nothing is beyond the capabilities of science and sees religious and spiritual balls as foolish to depend on concepts that remain unproven by scientific method.

• Empiricism - If something can't be learned through observation or some experiment, then it simply isn't true.
• New Atheism - Fighting the good fight against superstition.
• Altruism - Altruism is a worldview focused on serving others and society as a whole, and this is important to us.

• Aristotelianism - The first empiricist, but what's this "teleology" nonsense?
• Scientific Deism - Proving God with empiric evidence? I have to see before I believe.

• Religions - We shouldn't concern ourselves with made-up concepts of "divine".
• Interpretivism - STOP DENYING ME!
• Egoism - Selfishness is a problem of society.

WIP

• Positivism
• Parnassianism

• We and You by Aleksander Świętochowski (in Polish)
  

• 
  Previous portrait