Who is regarded as the father of sociology?

Auguste Comte is often regarded as the father of sociology due to his foundational role in establishing sociology as a distinct discipline. He coined the term "sociology" in the early 19th century and was instrumental in promoting the idea that social phenomena could be studied systematically and scientifically, similar to the natural sciences. Comte believed that society evolves through progressive stages and that understanding societal dynamics would lead to improvements in governance and social welfare.

His contributions also included the development of positivism, a philosophical system that emphasizes observation and empirical evidence as a source of knowledge. Comte's vision of sociology as a science that could study social order and social change laid the groundwork for future sociologists, making his influence on the field foundational. Other prominent sociologists like Max Weber, Emile Durkheim, and Talcott Parsons have made significant contributions but are regarded as building upon Comte's initial framework rather than originating the discipline itself.