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Sukanya Das, Lovely Professional University Unit-3: Theory of Evolution and Progress

unit-3: theory of evolution and progress notes

contents
Objectives
Introduction

3.1 Theory of Evolution
3.2 Summary
3.3 Keywords
3.4 Review Questions
3.5 Further Readings

objectives

After studying this unit, the students will be able to:
y Understood the evolutionary theory of Auguste Comte,
y To know the reaction of progressive state of thinking in society,
y To understood the various levels of human thought process.

introduction

Auguste Comte wished to search out and know the rules that governed the low journey of human
society from the time of tree–dwelling ape – man to contemporary man.
From his studies, he came to the conclusion that just as human mind developed, so too the Mind of
Society too developed. Comte uses the human body as a metaphor. Children go from childhood to
teenage to adulthood. In a similar way human knowledge has progressed, and so too has progressed
the mind of society or society on the whole.

3.1 theory of evolution

In the three stages of human–thought process, Theological stage; Metaphysical Stage and Positivistic
Stage, in relation to each of which Comte has mentioned a special social organization. In other words,
according to Comte between the levels of human thought process and social/organizations, there
is an obvious relationship. Therefore in every level of human tought–process, a special kind social
organization is found, which according to historical evidence is of the following kinds –
1. When human knowledge is at the stage of religion, then like everything else, social life, and
organization too is considered a prototype of divine will. At this stage the main theory concerning
the forms of human relations is the divine theory. According to it, the origin and being of society is
because of Gods will/wish. For this reason, political power too is based on divine rights. The king is
considered the representative of God, and therefore all his orders should be obeyed without considering
their just or injust intentions. According to this view, the king can perform any activity, and for that
he is answerable only to god and none other. Nor can any person doubt any activity of the king. As
the king is a direct representative of God, so his word is law. And as behind these laws lies divine

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