Positivism
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''This page is in progress by Thijs Koolhof.'' | ''This page is in progress by Thijs Koolhof.'' | ||
| - | Positivism is a set of philosophical approaches that seeks to apply scientific principles and methods, drawn from the natural and hard sciences, to social phenomena in order to explain them. | + | Positivism is a set of philosophical approaches that seeks to apply scientific principles and methods, drawn from the natural and hard sciences, to social phenomena in order to explain them. <ref>Excel For Dummies, First Edition, Hungry Minds, Inc., 1980.</ref> |
| - | The term positivism designates the thought of the French philosopher Auguste Comte (1798–1857). Comte argued that social research was, until the nineteenth century, speculative, emotive and romantic and that as a result it lacked rigour and analytical reasoning. He posited to concentrate on facts and truths | + | The term positivism designates the thought of the French philosopher Auguste Comte (1798–1857). Comte argued that social research was, until the nineteenth century, speculative, emotive and romantic and that as a result it lacked rigour and analytical reasoning. He posited to concentrate on facts and truths in order to explain and predict human behaviour. |
| + | Therefore Comte rejected metaphysical and normative questions as they could not be answered scientifically. | ||
There are various forms of positivism. The two most discussed are ''logical positivism'' and ''critical rationalism''. | There are various forms of positivism. The two most discussed are ''logical positivism'' and ''critical rationalism''. | ||
Revision as of 09:19, 29 September 2010
This page is in progress by Thijs Koolhof.
Positivism is a set of philosophical approaches that seeks to apply scientific principles and methods, drawn from the natural and hard sciences, to social phenomena in order to explain them. [1]
The term positivism designates the thought of the French philosopher Auguste Comte (1798–1857). Comte argued that social research was, until the nineteenth century, speculative, emotive and romantic and that as a result it lacked rigour and analytical reasoning. He posited to concentrate on facts and truths in order to explain and predict human behaviour. Therefore Comte rejected metaphysical and normative questions as they could not be answered scientifically.
There are various forms of positivism. The two most discussed are logical positivism and critical rationalism.
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