Comte, Positive Philosophy pp 57-67

Conclusion: Revision of the encyclopedic scale is to take place to further clarify the positive classification of the fundamental sciences and its relationships.

“The revision of the encyclopedic scale, undertaken in this way at the commencement of each of the five great sciences, should make the scale itself more exact and its soundness more evident.” (58)

Premises:

1. Positive philosophy is comprised of five different sciences: astronomy, physics, chemistry, physiology, and social physics (57).

       a. The first four are sciences developed which affect all other phenomena including social physics without being affected in return (57).

2. Distinctions between sciences developed separately are to be made and the distinction is to be made rationally not only empirically (58-59).

3. The actual development of natural philosophy is to be followed (59).

      a. The study of general sciences is vital in developing more focused sciences. This allows a natural order to develop that does not have a preceding science depend on a specialized science.

4. The perfection of the different sciences is to be present in classification (60).

     a. Precision is not to be confused with certainty

5. Each science must have a plan of study (61).

     a. Certain sciences require the knowledge of others to avoid holes in intellectual development