 In the final part of his career, Comte turned his attention to political theory.  He had already rejected as “metaphysical” certain building blocks of the theory of liberal democracy, including popular sovereignty (1853, v. 2, 155–6) and liberty of conscience (v. 2, 151).  In System of Positive Polity, he envisions a socialist society governed by a few unelected officials, who are in turn educated and advised by an elite priesthood of social scientists (1875 (51), 82).  Guided by the principle that the temporal and spiritual powers of society should be  separate, Comte emphasizes that the priests of positivism should not exercise political leadership themselves (170).  Comte appeals to the same principle to justify the exclusion of women from public life (197).  He explains that women wield spiritual power as mothers and wives (260–1),  and their spiritual authority would be jeopardized if they were to pursue a  vocation outside the family. 