Sociology 2240E Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Auguste Comte, Harriet Martineau, Organicism

• School: Western University
• Department: Sociology
• Course: Sociology 2240E
• Professor: Amanda Zavitz

Document Summary

When/how did sociology begin: birth of sociology was a response to the conservative reaction to the enlightenment, born in a conservative era recalling to a time of order and tranquility. Sociology grew out of the romantic conservative reaction to the enlightenment. Thus, its original thrust was conservative (and many would argue that it remains conservative). St simon (professor of comte) and comte, the official founding fathers of sociology, were directly influenced by bonald and maistre (wanted to think of god as the ultimate knower) St simon = more of a philosopher than a sociology. Comte = first person to systemically apply science to society. Defining characteristics: comte was a french sociologist. Influenced by the french revolution sociology stemmed from this time period: was the first spokesperson for positivistic organic thought (whole theory was based around this) Positivism + organicism: he is known as the first sociologist (the founding father of sociology)