Auguste Comte versus Charles Wright Mills
Auguste Comte and Charles Wright Mills were both essential sociologists who provided wide-ranging sociological studies, and even though they were similar in the vastness of their great contributions, both figures’ differences are exemplified in their sociological perceptions and influences. In example, Comte is widely regarded as the founder of sociology, as he built the sociological foundation of observing society through a positivist manner. Furthermore, C. Wright Mills’ sociological imagination offers a view on interconnecting individuals to society. Providing such inclusive theories is what the two had in common, but the two are dissimilar in the manners they built sociology.
Background
French philosopher Auguste Comte established sociology and positivism, and Charles Wright Mills was an American sociologist who coined sociological imagination (Bourdeau). Born in southern France on January 19, 1978, Comte is regarded as the first philosopher of science (Petit). His major contributions to sociology were positivism and the law of three stages. Notably, Comte’s positivism is a philosophy that bases its view of information on sensory experience, empirical knowledge and logic, along with social statics and dynamics (Macionis & Gerber, 2010). In addition, Comte’s law of three stages, the theological, the metaphysical and the positive stages, helps to define how society is constructed (“What Are”, 2012). 55 years after Comte’s death, C. Wright Mills was born in Waco, Texas (Crossman). Moreover, Mills would eventually become an assistant professor in Colombia University. His major contributions were found in his books, The Power Elite, and The Sociological Imagination, which explained how Mills effectively related individuals’ actions and society’s public issues (Mills, 1959). In addition, his book The Power Elite enlightens that society possesses a high class of leaders that manipulatively subjugate individuals who are below them (Mills, 1956).
Sociological Input
Even though Auguste Comte and Charles Wright Mills provided wide sociological outlooks on society, Auguste Comte was a more experimental sociologist who contributed to structural functionalism, whereas Charles Wright Mills was more theoretical and a critic of structural functionalism. Many sociologists would use Comte’s positivistic attitude to conduct their own sociological theories. Similarly, like how positivism illustrated that society is a social study in itself, sociological imagination also provided an extensive insight of society. Therefore, both of these concepts are vital products of macro sociology. But whereas Comte’s beliefs were regarded as cooperative to structural functionalism, Mills criticized the theory in The Sociological Imagination. To complement, Comte was indeed more experimental, as positivism requires the scientific method, whereas Mills rejected positivism and was more theoretical.
Personal Opinion
In personal opinion, I admire and criticize both individuals’ theories to certain extents. I admire Comte’s development of positivism because I appreciate scientific logic. On the other hand, in his law of three stages, he hastily theorized a transition from the metaphysical to the positivity stage. I believe that the metaphysical stage is not too related to the positivity stage and should not precede the final stage. Moreover, I am impressed by Mills’ The Power Elite because of the different class’ mannerisms Mills focused on. Conversely, I criticize Mills for his disapproval of positivism because sociology is a social science built on empirical knowledge.
All in all, Auguste Comte and C. Wright Mills both laid important influences, which defined their similarities and differences. Comte is applauded for creating sociology in an experimental, scientific procedure, and Mills is praised for his individualist perspective of sociology. Shunning observation and criticizing structural functionalism, Mills was a less experimenting figure than functionalist-supporting Comte.
Works Cited
Bourdeau, Michel. “Auguste Comte.” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Metaphysics Research Lab, CSLI, Stanford University, 1 Oct. 2008. Web. 24 Feb. 2013. <http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/comte/>.
Crossman, Ashley. “C. Wright Mills.” About.com Sociology. About.com, n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2013. <http://sociology.about.com/od/Profiles/p/C-Wright-Mills.htm>.
Macionis, John J., and Linda M. Gerber. Sociology. 7th ed. Newmarket: Pearson Canada, 2010. N. pag. Print.
Mills, Charles Wright. The Power Elite. New York: Oxford UP, 1956. Print.
Mills, Charles Wright. The Sociological Imagination. New York: Oxford UP, 1959. Print.
Petit, Annie. “Rencontre Avec Annie Petit.”[Interview with Annie Petit] Montpellier Agglomeration. N.p., 19 Oct. 2007. Web. 25 Feb. 2013. <http://mediatheque.montpellier- agglo.com/action-culturelle-/conferences-enregistrees/rencontre-avec-annie-petit- auguste-comte-19-octobre-2007-49142.khtml
“What Are the Major Contributions of Auguste Comte to Sociology?” Preserve Articles. N.p., 14 Feb. 2012. Web. 24 Feb. 2013. <http://www.preservearticles.com/201104306124/what- are-the-major-contributions-of-auguste-comte-to-sociology.html>.
© Copyright Nikhil B. Punjabi
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