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Positivism
Time
- Mid 1800s
to
Late 1800s
- Auguste Comte, Course of Positive Philosophy (1830)
- Frederick Taylor, The Principles of Scientific Management (1911)
- Biography of Frederick Taylor
- Quiz on the readings (50 points)
- Research Paper: 150 pts
- Use this link for Research Paper's Structure
- Download the mandatory Checklist
- Do not use the following words in any manner:
- MLA
- Use one of the following four ideals as your Theory: 1) Naturalism, 2) Phenomenalism, 3) Nominalism, 4)Atomism (a.k.a. Reductivism)
- use your topic as the Scope
- Your scope must include how your topic was viewed during its first two stages of knowledge, see below.
- 1-2 pages of Analysis
- Analysis must solely cover how your topic is, or can be, viewed through the theory you chose
- use at least one of the readings (above) as one of three professional sources.
- use the other three of the four ideals in your conclusion
- Naturalism
- The principles of the natural sciences should be used for social science.
- Phenomenalism
- Only observable phenomena provide valid information.
- Nominalism
- Words of scientific value have fixed and single meanings.
- The existence of a word does not imply the existence of what it describes.
- Atomism or Reductivisim
- Things can be studied by reducing them to their smallest parts (and the whole is the sum of the parts).
- Scientific laws
- The goal of science is to create generalised laws (which are useful for such as prediction).
- Facts and values
- Facts are to be sought.
- Values have no meaning for science.
- Three stages of knowledge
Comte's three stages
Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3
Stage of knowledge
Fictitious knowledge
Metaphysical knowledge
Scientific knowledge
Foundations of belief
Faith and custom
Philosophy
Rational logic
Social base
Family
State
Humanity
- Read this site for a clearer understanding of Positivism.
- Anti-Abortion / Pro-Choice
- Lowering Alcohol Age limit /abolishing alcohol
- Abolish Capital punishment / maintain its use
- Creation science / evolution
- Legalize Euthanasia & assisted suicide / keep laws as they are
- Law against Flag burning / keep laws as is
- Legalization of marijuana/ keep illegal
- allow Prayer in schools/ make illegal
- legalize Same sex marriage / ban same sex marriage