III. The Law of Three Stages
“Each of our leading conceptions, each branch of our knowledge, passes successively through three different theoretical conditions: The Theological or fictitious; the Metaphysical or abstract; and the Scientific or the positive.
A. The Theological State
There is a search for absolute knowledge in terms of first and final causes; and all phenomena re conceived to be produced by the action of supernatural beings. The stage begins with polytheism and ends with monotheism.
B. The Metaphysical State
There is a search or absolute knowledge in terms of first and final causes, but all phenomena are conceived to be produced by abstract forces or verified entities or personified abstractions, for example Plato’s Forms. (RY) The stage begins with many entities and ends with one, namely Nature.
