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Positivism

1910 New Catholic Dictionary

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1910 New Catholic Dictionary
• Positivism
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1911 Encyclopedia Britannica
• Positivism
McClintock and Strong's Bible Encyclopedia
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The Nuttall Encyclopedia
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The system of Auguste Comte (1798-1857), in its affirmative aspect making knowledge and truth identical with sense experience. Hence physical science, with sociology at its head, alone has value, and the aim of all thinking should be classification of facts according to its method. In its negative aspect it denies the validity of all supra-sensual knowledge, rejecting metaphysics and philosophy; we know relations, not causes, and a fortiori not the First Cause; see also, Agnosticism. Mankind has progressed from the theological through the metaphysical to the positive stage. Denying the knowability of a Personal God, Comte worshiped humanity, and made sociology his sacred science.