The three-stage model was Comte's attempt to explain how human understanding of the world had developed over time. He argued that the first stage of human development was the theological stage, in which the workings of society and the individual's place in it were thought to be based on the will of a divine being or beings. Comte further subdivided this into three stages. The first stage was the fetishistic or animistic stage, in which objects were ascribed supernatural powers. Next came the polytheistic, in which a pantheon of gods with different personalities was created. The most advanced stage was the monotheistic stage, in which humans believed in a single divine being.
For Comte, the theological stage was followed by the arrival of a metaphysical stage. In the metaphysical stage, society was understood with reference to abstract concepts. These abstract concepts were believed to exist on a higher plane, outside of society itself. This type of thinking was common in Comte's era; the concept of, for instance, "the rights of man" was believed to exist above any society's specific laws. Comte believed that this stage was the first stage in which individuals began to question and investigate rather than simply accept the beliefs of their ancestors without question.
The final stage in the development of human thinking about society was the positive stage. During this stage, Comte argued that the investigation of society would stop being merely philosophical and become properly scientific. This stage was only possible once the physical sciences had progressed through their own three stages of development, going from attributing natural phenomena to gods or spirits, to understanding them in scientific terms. Comte believed that it was then possible to develop a society based on the scientific analysis of humans, a practice he termed "sociology."
Although modern sociology does not follow the structure laid down by Comte -- rejecting the idea that there is a single objective way to improve society -- the earliest sociologists were inspired by Comte's idea of a scientific approach to human society. For instance, sociologist Herbert Spencer attempted to apply contemporary theories from biology to understand human society. Comte's thinking also influenced the revolutionary movement in Brazil: The motto Ordem e Progresso ("Order and Progress"), which adorns the Brazilian flag, was derived from Comte's writings.