Who is recognized as the father of sociology?

Auguste Comte is recognized as the father of sociology because he was the first to coin the term "sociology" and advocated for the systematic study of society. Comte developed the idea that human societies progress through three stages of development: the theological, the metaphysical, and the positive stage. He believed that sociology, as the science of society, could be used to understand and improve social conditions. Comte's emphasis on positivism, which advocates for the use of scientific methods to study social phenomena, laid the groundwork for sociology as a discipline. His contributions established sociology as a distinct field of study, emphasizing its importance in understanding and addressing social issues.