Who originally propounded the theory of three stages of social development?

1. A

   Karl Marx

   Karl Marx analysed historical materialism and modes of production (primitive, slave, feudal, capitalist, and a socialist horizon). That is not Comte’s three-stage law of social development as originally framed.

2. B

   Talcott Parsons

   Talcott Parsons is a twentieth-century structural-functionalist (AGIL, social system). He did not originally propound the three-stage theory asked here.

3. C

   Herbert Spencer

   Herbert Spencer offered evolutionary sociology and organic analogy (‘survival of the fittest’ in social use). He is not the author of the theological–metaphysical–positive triad.

4. D

   Auguste Comte

   Auguste Comte originally propounded the Law of Three Stages: theological, metaphysical and positive (scientific). That is the official key.

Summary. Official key is (d) Auguste Comte. Positivism treats knowledge as moving from gods, through abstract essences, to observable scientific laws. Marx, Parsons and Spencer are neighbouring theorists, not the origin of this triad. Do not credit Spencer’s evolutionism as Comte’s stages. Honour the stored letter (d).