Opinion: Government should be open to outside ideas at Budget time

The work of Auguste Comte, a French philosopher from the first half of the 19th century doesn't feature very much on the bestsellers lists these days, writes Brian Keegan.

He had many worthwhile things to say, and is widely regarded as the founder of modern science of sociology. However, like many earning a living from the pen, Comte had some wilder notions and towards the end of his life came up with the idea of cerebral hygiene.