Ideas from 'Intro to Positive Philosophy' by Auguste Comte [1830], by Theme Structure
[found in 'Introduction to Positive Philosophy' by Comte,Auguste (ed/tr Ferré,Frederick) [Hackett 1988,0-87220-050-7]].
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1. Philosophy / B. History of Ideas / 1. History of Ideas
12104
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All ideas must be understood historically
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Our knowledge starts in theology, passes through metaphysics, and ends in positivism
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1. Philosophy / E. Nature of Metaphysics / 6. Metaphysics as Conceptual
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Metaphysics is just the oversubtle qualification of abstract names for phenomena
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1. Philosophy / G. Scientific Philosophy / 2. Positivism
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Positivism gives up absolute truth, and seeks phenomenal laws, by reason and observation
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Positivism is the final state of human intelligence
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1. Philosophy / G. Scientific Philosophy / 3. Scientism
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Science can drown in detail, so we need broad scientists (to keep out the metaphysicians)
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Only positivist philosophy can terminate modern social crises
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12. Knowledge Sources / D. Empiricism / 4. Pro-Empiricism
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All real knowledge rests on observed facts
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14. Science / A. Basis of Science / 1. Observation
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We must observe in order to form theories, but connected observations need prior theories
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14. Science / D. Explanation / 2. Types of Explanation / e. Lawlike explanations
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Positivism explains facts by connecting particular phenomena with general facts
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16. Persons / C. Self-Awareness / 3. Limits of Introspection
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Introspection is pure illusion; we can obviously observe everything except ourselves
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26. Natural Theory / C. Causation / 7. Eliminating causation
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The search for first or final causes is futile
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26. Natural Theory / D. Laws of Nature / 8. Scientific Essentialism / e. Anti scientific essentialism
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We can never know origins, purposes or inner natures
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