noun ·Rare ·Advanced level

Definitions

Noun

1. 1
   The positivistic philosophy of Auguste Comte (1798–1857), according to which metaphysics and theology should be replaced by a hierarchy of sciences from mathematics at the base to sociology at the top. uncountable
2. 2
   Auguste Comte's positivistic philosophy that metaphysics and theology should be replaced by a hierarchy of sciences from mathematics at the base to sociology at the top wordnet

Synonyms

All synonyms

comtean positivismcomtean sociologymechanistic empiricismpositivist philosophypositivist programrigid positivism

Antonyms

All antonyms

ethical mysticismholistic inquiryhumanistic approachmetaphysical speculation

Etymology

From (Auguste) Comte + -ism.