How did Auguste Comte develop the philosophy of positivism?

Auguste Comte developed the philosophy of positivism by establishing a system that restricts knowledge to empirical data and rejects metaphysical speculation. His approach was primarily defined by two foundational ideas:12

The Law of Three Stages

Comte proposed that human intellectual development—both in history and individual growth—progresses through three distinct phases:23
* Theological Stage: Natural phenomena are explained by supernatural or divine powers.23
* Metaphysical Stage: Explanations rely on abstract notions, such as essences or internal forces, rather than observable facts.23
* Positive (Scientific) Stage: The final stage, where knowledge is based strictly on empirical observation and the formulation of descriptive laws.23

Hierarchy of the Sciences

Comte organized the sciences into a pyramid based on their complexity and dependence on one another, starting with mathematics at the base and moving through astronomy, physics, chemistry, and biology, culminating in the new science of sociology, which he founded.23

Influenced by the French Enlightenment and British empiricism, Comte detailed this system in his magnum opus, Cours de philosophie positive.123