Who is often referred to as the father of sociology?

Auguste Comte is often referred to as the father of sociology because he was the first to formulate a systematic framework for studying society scientifically. He coined the term "sociology" in the early 19th century and proposed that human society evolves through three stages: the theological stage, the metaphysical stage, and the scientific stage, which he termed positivism. Comte's emphasis on applying the scientific method to the study of social phenomena laid the groundwork for sociology as a distinct academic discipline. His ideas influenced many later sociologists and helped establish sociology as a field relevant to understanding human behavior and social structures.