Final answer:
Auguste Comte's "law of three stages" refers to the evolution of societal belief systems throughout three distinct stages: theological, metaphysical, and scientific or positive. It shows a shift from supernatural to empirical explanations of the world, culminating in the founding of sociology.
Step-by-step explanation:
What Auguste Comte meant by the "law of three stages" is B. The Evolution of Societal Belief Systems. Comte's theory proposed that societies develop through three distinct stages: the theological, the metaphysical, and the positive or scientific.
In the first stage, supernatural explanations for the events of life dominated. During the metaphysical stage, abstract philosophical reasoning about human existence began to emerge while still influenced by theological thought.
Finally, in the scientific or positive stage, empirical sciences and a focus on observable phenomena became the means to understand the world and society, leading towards the establishment of sociology and an emphasis on positivism.
Comte was foundational in the creation of sociology as a science, stressing the need for empirical research to advance the human condition and solve societal problems.
Positive knowledge, or positivism, would then enable humanity to phase out the reliance on religion and move towards using scientific principles to orchestrate social reform and progress.