Question

what did auguste comte believe about society that led to the scientific approach in sociology?

a. society is best understood through spiritual reflection

b. society can only be studied through individual psychology

c. society changes randomly with no discernible patterns

d. society operates according to laws of nature similar to the physical world

e. society cannot be studied systematically

Explanation:

Auguste Comte, the founder of sociology and positivism, argued that society follows predictable, natural laws just like the physical sciences (e.g., physics, chemistry). This belief justified applying scientific methods to study society, as observable, testable patterns could be identified. Options A, B, C, and E contradict his core positivist ideas: he rejected spiritual/individual-only approaches, held that society has discernible patterns, and insisted society could be studied systematically.

Answer:

D. Society operates according to laws of nature similar to the physical world