Full Idea
The first phase of humanity was theological, attributing phenomena to a deity, the second metaphysical stage attributed them to abstract forms, the third positive stage abandons ultimate causes and just searches for regularities.
Gist of Idea
The phases of human thought are theological, then metaphysical, then positivist
Source
report of Auguste Comte (Course of Positive Philosophy [1846]) by Peter Watson - Ideas Ch.32
Book Reference
Watson,Peter: 'Ideas: from fire to Freud' [Phoenix 2006], p.884
A Reaction
This is obviously a highly empirical programme, which reasserts Hume's view of the laws of nature. Effectively, positivism just is the rejection of metaphysics.