Final answer:
Comte's main concern was the decline in moral values and social order due to transitions in societal development, which he believed could be addressed through the study of sociology and positivism.
Step-by-step explanation:
Auguste Comte's main concern regarding the trends in early modern society was the decline in moral values and social order. As a pioneering sociologist, Comte observed that with the progression of societal development - from theological, to metaphysical, and finally, to scientific understanding - there was a risk that the cohesive cultural bonds that once united society were eroding. He believed that as society moved from mechanical to organic solidarity, it needed a new basis for unity and cohesiveness, and he saw sociology and positivism as ways to understand how to achieve this.
Comte's law of three stages outlines the evolution of societies: the religious stage, the metaphysical stage, and the positive stage. In the religious stage, humans attributed phenomena to supernatural causes. In the metaphysical stage, such explanations were questioned and seen as abstract, while in the positive stage, scientific understanding and laws governed society.
Although the Industrial Revolution brought about vast technological progress, Comte was more focused on the sociological impact of these changes. He was concerned that the loss of traditional societal bonds throughout this process would lead to a decline in moral values and the potential dissolving of social order.