# Humanity — A General View of Positivism character guide > Humanity in A General View of Positivism by Auguste Comte. **Role:** major **First appearance:** 0003-a-general-view-of-positivism ## Snapshot Not a god but the collective being of all human generations, past and future, whom Positivism asks us to love, serve, and worship. ## Who they are Humanity is the supreme object of the new religion, a Great Being composed of all who have lived, live, and will live, demanding duty rather than granting rights. The tension is that this abstract collective must inspire the intimate devotion once reserved for a personal deity, and Comte insists it can, since we never tire of loving. It matters because the book's entire moral architecture, its motto of Love, Order, Progress, rests on this substitution. ## Relationships ### [Poetry](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_general_view_of_positivism_se/characters/poetry) _friendship_ Poetry serves as an emotional and imaginative expression that elevates and unites Humanity. ### [Art](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_general_view_of_positivism_se/characters/art) _friendship_ Art is a creative force that beautifies and communicates the ideals of Humanity. ### [the Positivist](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_general_view_of_positivism_se/characters/the_positivist) _professional_ The Positivist acts as a devoted guide and systematizer for Humanity's moral and social progress. ### [The Intellect](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_general_view_of_positivism_se/characters/the_intellect) _friendship_ The Intellect provides rational understanding and scientific foundation for Humanity's development. ### [Communists](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_general_view_of_positivism_se/characters/communists) _rivalry_ Communists are seen as a disruptive force that threatens the organic unity of Humanity. ### [Clotilde de Vaux](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_general_view_of_positivism_se/characters/clotilde_de_vaux) _psychological_ Clotilde de Vaux is idealized by Comte as the symbolic feminine inspiration for Humanity's moral regeneration. ### [the priesthood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_general_view_of_positivism_se/characters/the_priesthood) _professional_ The Positivist priesthood serves Humanity by guiding its spiritual and moral education. ### [Catholicism](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_general_view_of_positivism_se/characters/catholicism) _rivalry_ Catholicism is a historical precursor but now an outdated system that must be superseded by the Religion of Humanity. ### [Positivism](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_general_view_of_positivism_se/characters/positivism) _friendship_ Positivism is the philosophical system designed to serve and perfect Humanity. ### [Clotilde de Vaux](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_general_view_of_positivism_se/characters/clotilde_de_vaux) _psychological_ Clotilde de Vaux is idealized by Comte as the symbolic feminine inspiration for Humanity's moral regeneration. ## In the story ### [Introductory Remarks](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_general_view_of_positivism_se/chapters/introductory-remarks) Central conception of Positivism, uniting Love, Order, and Progress, and guiding future social regeneration. ### [Epigraph](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_general_view_of_positivism_se/chapters/epigraph) Humanity is established as the central object of worship in the new positivist system. ### [A General View of Positivism](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_general_view_of_positivism_se/chapters/a-general-view-of-positivism) The collective Great Being that Positivism seeks to serve and worship. ### [I: The Intellectual Character of Positivism](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_general_view_of_positivism_se/chapters/i-the-intellectual-character-of-positivism) Referenced as the entity undergoing a formidable crisis and the ultimate object of Positivism's moral and social regeneration. ### [II: The Social Aspect of Positivism, as Shown by Its Connection with the General Revolutionary Movement of Western Europe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_general_view_of_positivism_se/chapters/ii-the-social-aspect-of-positivism-as-shown-by-its-connection-with-the-general-revolutionary-movement-of-western-europe) The ultimate beneficiary of Positivism's reorganization; the entity for whom the new organization of life is offered. ### [The Action of Positivism Upon the Working Classes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_general_view_of_positivism_se/chapters/iii-the-action-of-positivism-upon-the-working-classes) Referenced as the entity whose advanced portion was gradually ridding itself of slavery during the Middle Ages. ### [The Influence of Positivism Upon Women](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_general_view_of_positivism_se/chapters/iv-the-influence-of-positivism-upon-women) The ultimate object of worship in Positivism, with the worship of Woman as an intermediate step. ### [The Relation of Positivism to Art](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_general_view_of_positivism_se/chapters/v-the-relation-of-positivism-to-art) Referenced as the ultimate object of study and the entity to which all knowledge is relative; the priest of Humanity is the ideal spiritual leader. ### [VI: Conclusion: The Religion of Humanity](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_general_view_of_positivism_se/chapters/vi-conclusion-the-religion-of-humanity) Central object of worship in the new religion; the supreme being to whom all faculties are consecrated. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_general_view_of_positivism_se/characters/humanity - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_general_view_of_positivism_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_general_view_of_positivism_se/characters