Positivism

Understanding Positivism

Feelosofi  –  Positivism is a philosophical and methodological approach known in science and philosophy in the 19th century. This view was first developed by Auguste Comte, a French philosopher who believed that scientific knowledge must be based on empirical observation, scientific methods, and drawing conclusions based on observable facts. Positivism emphasizes the importance of objectivity, impartiality, and a scientific framework in scientific inquiry.

In general, positivism encourages the abandonment of the speculative and metaphysical aspects of human thought, replacing them with an emphasis on measurable research, systematic observation, and rigorous scientific methods. This approach has formed the basis for the development of various fields of science, including physics, biology, sociology, and economics, with an emphasis on experimentation, observation, and empirical evidence .

Positivism also claims that knowledge obtained through scientific methods is reliable and can be applied to solve social and scientific problems. However, critics of positivism highlight limitations in positivistic knowledge, such as the inability to understand phenomena that are subjective or abstract. However, the legacy of positivism is still felt in the form of science which focuses on observation and proof, and as an important contribution to the development of modern scientific thought.

History Of The Development Of Positivism

Positivism is a philosophical and methodological school of thought that emerged in the 19th century, which bases knowledge on scientific methods based on empirical observations and observable facts. Auguste Comte, a French philosopher , is known as the founder of positivism, advocating an emphasis on objectivity, impartiality, and the systematic use of scientific methods in scientific investigations. This approach makes experimentation, measurable observation, and deductive logic the basis for obtaining valid and reliable knowledge.

Positivism played an important role in the development of modern science, influencing a wide range of fields, including physics, biology, economics, and sociology. The principles of positivism encouraged the development of rigorous scientific methods and empirical proof , which became the basis for the development of technology and scientific knowledge today.

Although positivism makes an important contribution in understanding the world and overcoming many scientific problems, this approach also has criticism, especially in its limitations in understanding subjective reality or abstract aspects of human life. Therefore, positivism cannot be considered the only method of understanding the world, but it remains an important basis in the development of modern science.

Figures Of Positivism

Positivism, as a philosophical and scientific school of thought that emerged in the 19th century, gave birth to a number of key figures who played an important role in its development. One of the most famous figures is Auguste Comte, a French philosopher who is considered the father of positivism. Comte developed the concept of the “law of three stages” which states that the development of human knowledge goes through three stages: the theological stage, the metaphysical stage, and the positive stage. His views that prioritize scientific methods and objectivity influenced many scientists and thinkers in the future.

Apart from Comte, another figure who is worth mentioning is Emile Durkheim, a French sociologist who was the founder of sociology as a separate scientific discipline. He expanded the ideas of positivism in the context of social science, emphasizing the importance of scientific methods in understanding society and measuring social phenomena. Another positivistic thinker was John Stuart Mill, an English philosopher and economist who contributed to the development of inductive logic and the theory of knowledge.

Apart from that, figures such as Herbert Spencer, Pierre-Simon Laplace, and Ernst Mach also played a role in expanding the scope of positivism in various fields of science. Spencer, for example, developed the concept of “ survival of the fittest ” which influenced the development of evolutionary and biological thinking. Pierre-Simon Laplace contributed to thinking in mathematics and astronomy, while Ernst Mach influenced thinking in physics and philosophy of science.

Overall, these positivist figures had a significant impact in shaping the foundations of modern science, emphasizing the scientific method, empirical observation , and objectivity as the main principles in research and understanding the world. Their contributions have helped advance various scientific disciplines and continue to influence scientific thinking today.

Types Of Positivism

Positivism as a philosophical and methodological school of thought has several variants that have developed over time, creating different types of positivism that describe different approaches to science and knowledge. First, classical positivism, pioneered by Auguste Comte, emphasized the importance of the scientific method in understanding the physical and social world. It covers three stages of the development of human knowledge: theological, metaphysical, and positive.

Later, logical positivism, which developed in the early 20th century, focused on language and logic . Figures such as Rudolf Carnap and Alfred Ayer view that only statements that can be tested and verified empirically have meaningful value, while statements that cannot be tested, such as metaphysical statements, are considered meaningless.

Logical positivism also gave rise to confirmational positivism, which argues that science should focus on gathering evidence that confirms or validates scientific theories.

In addition, empirical positivism prioritizes empirical experience as the only valid source of knowledge, emphasizing observation and measurement as the basis of science. Prominent figures in this school include John Stuart Mill and Ernst Mach.

Furthermore, there is sociological positivism espoused by Emile Durkheim, who applied the principles of positivism in the study of social sciences. Sociological positivism emphasizes social facts that can be observed and measured as the basis for understanding society.

Finally, historical positivism, espoused by figures such as Hippolyte Taine, focuses on the use of scientific methods in understanding the history and development of human civilization. They support historical explanations based on observable and measurable facts.

Conclusion

Overall, positivism is a school of philosophical and scientific thought that emphasizes the use of scientific methods, empirical observation , and objectivity as a basis for understanding the world and developing knowledge. In its development, positivism has produced various types of positivism, including classical positivism, logical positivism, empirical positivism , sociological positivism, and historical positivism, each of which emphasizes certain aspects in the application of positivism principles in various fields of science.

Although approaches and emphases vary, the main commonality in all types of positivism is a belief in the importance of science and the scientific method as a means of understanding the world and developing valid knowledge. Thus, positivism has played an important role in the development of modern science and continues to influence scientific thinking today.

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Reference

• Logical Positivism: Epistemology and Philosophy of Modern Science by AJ Ayer (1959)
• Theory and Method in Sociology: Basic Concepts of Positivism by Auguste Comte (1830)
• Logical Positivism and Human Understanding by Willard Van Orman Quine (1969)
• Positivist Sociology: A Critique by Theodor W. Adorno (1969)
• Logical Positivism: Critique and Reconstruction by Peter A. Schouls (1981)
• Positivism, Conflict, and Social Change by Lewis A. Coser (1956)
• Auguste Comte and the Making of Modern Sociology by Mary Pickering (1993)

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