Positivism


 * Positivism**

Positivism emerged in the 19th century because the scientific discoveries and innovations led to the belief that a similar appoach could be applied to human society. Auguste Comte's major work, //System of Positive Philosophy// shows positivisim with a hiearchy of sciences, with Math as the basis for all knowledge. With Math and the physical laws at the base of the hierachy, he then progressed to the social sciences, such as economics, anthropology, history, and social psychology. >
 * Causes (epistomolgy and ontology that led to this perspective):
 * Scientific Revolution (Copurnicus, Kepler, Galileo, and Newton -> the study of mathematics and then progressed to the study of the solar system)
 * Socialism, improve upon the class disparity
 * Marxism, his study of the classes, "the material conditions of life as a scientific work of analysis"
 * Industrial Revolution, results in a different human nature, society is more regulated, changing
 * Disregard for supernatural, metaphysics, and religion in discovering the laws of the universe
 * Math and known sciences are the basis for all future knowledge
 * The belief in progress, human society will continue to progress because of knowledge

This graphic representation is Comte's heirarchy of sciences that reflects positivism perspective. With the basis of mathematics, the physical sciences are able to be studied. Then, branching off from the physical laws, intellectuals can study the laws that dictate society. For instance, economics, which determine the class lines in the 19th century.