BRIEF BIOGRAPHIC SKETCH OF AUGUSTE COMTE

• Auguste Comte [1798-1857] was a renowned French philosopher, regarded as the first sociologist and the “father of sociology.”
• He laid the foundations of sociology, advocating that it should be treated on par with other sciences.
• Comte was born in Montpellier, France, in 1798, to humble and highly religious parents.
• Known for his extraordinary mental ability, strong character, and a tendency to challenge authority, Comte was described as “brilliant and recalcitrant.”
• He excelled in his studies, earning prizes and being called “the philosopher” by his peers.
• Comte attended the Ecole Polytechnique in Paris, where he studied physics and mathematics but developed an interest in social affairs.
• Initially critical of Napoleon’s administration and both parental and religious authority, he led a student group demanding the resignation of an instructor.
• Despite being a bright student, he never received a college degree, affecting his later teaching career.
• In 1818, he became secretary to Saint Simon, a prominent socialist philosopher, and the two co-authored works, including “Plan of the Scientific Operations Necessary for the Reorganisation of Society” (1822).
• Comte’s partnership with Saint Simon ended in 1824 due to a lack of credit for Comte’s contributions.
• Comte married in 1825, but his wife deserted him in 1842, leading to a period of isolation and personal disappointments.
• He faced economic crises and was invited to deliver private lectures on positive philosophy, which were later published in the six-volume “Course of Positive Philosophy” (1830-42).
• The work garnered international admiration, including from J.S. Mill.
• In 1826, Comte began a series of 72 lectures on his philosophy, but a nervous breakdown halted the series after three lectures.
• Comte attempted suicide in 1827 due to personal struggles.
• He worked at the Ecole Polytechnique while composing his influential six-volume work, Positive Philosophy, which introduced the term “sociology” and declared sociology as the ultimate science.
• By 1851, he completed “System of Positive Politics” in four volumes, proposing a plan for the reorganization of society using sociology’s findings.
• Comte promoted “cerebral hygiene”, avoiding the works of others to preserve his mental health and proposed a “religion of humanity”, where he claimed to be its high priest.
• His life was filled with stresses, conflicts, poverty, and isolation, and he passed away on 5th September 1857.
• Comte’s religion of humanity died with him, but his scientific contributions to sociology continue to influence the field.
• Main works:
  1. “The Prospectus of the Scientific Works Required for the Reorganisation of Society” (1822)
  2. “Positive Philosophy” (1830-1842) – six volumes
  3. “Positive Polity” (1851-1854) – four volumes