The tombstone of Auguste Comte, the founder of sociology, reads: Love as a principle, the order as a foundation, and progress as a goal

Comte is considered the founder of positivism and sociology. He was born in Montpellier, which is also known for its university today. Montpellier, with its university founded in 1289; Petrarca was an important cultural city known for hosting well-known people such as Rablais and John Locke. Comte was physically unhealthy. His frail body, shortsightedness, stomach disease have been a problem throughout his life. He started secondary school at the age of 9, after taking Latin lessons from an elderly teacher his parents hired. Boarding life was difficult for him. However, since his mental development was ahead of his age, he did very well in his studies. At the age of 15, he took the Paris Polytechnic School exam. Although he was very successful, he was not accepted to the school due to his young age. He was competent enough to teach instead of a math teacher who fell ill in his senior year of high school.

Comte could not stay away from Paris, which is the mirror of society. And he returned to Paris from Montpellier at the age of 18. In this new period, he especially read Philosophy and History books. 18th century He was influenced by the views of French thinkers, Montesiquieu, Condorcet, Turgot. Among the thinkers he was influenced by were Hume and Kant. In addition to social issues, he continued his studies in mathematics, astronomy, physics, chemistry and biology. In 1829 he resumed his unfinished lecture series. He published these conferences in 6 volumes with the title "Lectures on Factual Philosophy". Between 1830-48 he gave lectures to workers on a programmatic basis every year. He began teaching mathematics at the Polytechnic School.

In 1838 his book was reviewed in The Edinburgh Review. With the efforts of John Stuart Mill, he received financial aid from three Englishmen. The work titled “The Factual Political System” (1851-54), which took eight years, also included a definition of sociology. His writings began to influence a wide audience. He corresponded with positivist groups all over the world. In May 1857, caught in a cold at the funeral of an old friend, he died in September. By his own will, the tombstone was inscribed: “Love as a principle, the order as a foundation, and progress as a goal.”