Comte
AUGUSTE (kônt), a noted French philosopher, founder of the Positive Philosophy; born in Montpellier, Jan. 19, 1798. On leaving college he be came acquainted with Saint-Simon, and joined the band of brilliant disciples that distinguished social reformer had gathered around him. On the death of its founder, in 1825, Comte deserted the Saint-Simonian school to found one of his own; and during the next 20 years devoted himself to the elaboration of an original system of scientific thought- Positive Philosophy. In his view the problem for philosophy is to ascertain the positive and verifiable basis of all knowledge, science, and religion of the whole intellectual, moral, and religious world of man. In working out this problem Comte studied the basis of the State or civil society and set forth his conclusions in "The Positive Polity." He bases the law of morals or of conduct on the "social feeling" or altruism. The central fact of religion and the one object of religious worship is Humanity conceived personality. He contemplated the as a constitution of a priesthood whose authority was to have as wide a reach as the authority of the popes in mediæval times. His "Positive Philosophy," "Positivist Catechism," and "Positive Polity," have been translated into English. He died in Paris, Sept. 5, 1857.