TEACH SCIENCE OR HUMANITIES ACCORDING TO AUGUSTO COMTE

Abstract

The general question of this work is whether, according to Comte, we should teach
humanities or science. The question is relevant since it shows the position of a significant
author on the issue. The objective is to explain whether Comte proposes the teaching of
humanities or science, thus contributing to a better understanding of comtean educational
philosophy. Specific bibliography on the subject is unknown. As it is generally believed that
Comte recommends the teaching of science, we tried to transcribe, as much as possible, his
own texts and those of one of his orthodox disciple, with few comments from my part to
avoid running the risk of being discredited. We collected, inductively, to reach a synthesis
(synthetically), all comtean references that we deemed relevant to the question; we appointed,
deductively (thus taking an analytical stand), his indirect position; and came to the synthesis,
which is the “description” of his position. We concluded that Comte proposed the teaching of
humanities and sciences; the teaching of these framed within the teaching of those, which,
consequently, became scientific, or, better yet, positive.