French philosopher and social scientist AUGUSTE COMTE (1798-1857) developed the notion of sociology as a field that could be studied, invented the term altruism, and in this groundbreaking work, created a system of principles and ideas-a rational "religion"-that has since come to influence humanism across the Western world. In Volume II, Comte defines his new "social physics"-a system that included equality, liberty of the conscience, and the sovereignty of the people-details his "positive" philosophy, and explains how it can be applied to social phenomena. He also explains why social dynamics mean that positivism will "inevitably" come to dominate human society, and how positivism will impact all areas of human endeavor. First published in English in 1853, this is an extraordinary synthesis of thought that is required reading for anyone wishing to understand the development of the scientific, secular mindset of the modern world.