Positivism as a method of enquiry relies upon the scientific methodological principles of empirical observation, deductive reasoning, and formulation of laws or universal generalizations. Enlightenment brought about a new age of reason, objectivity and criticality. The enlightenment witnessed a period of spectacular triumphs in the natural sciences. The success did not go unnoticed in the social sciences. Rather, as many commentators have noted, the social sciences were born in the shadow of these triumphs. Furthermore, the methodological lessons that the natural sciences were teaching seemed to be very clear: if the methods of the natural science are strictly adhered to, then the spectacular success of these sciences could be matched in the social sciences. The social sciences had only to await the arrival of their Newton (Hekman). Positivism was thus an inevitable consequence of science.