In coining the word "altruism", as stated above, Comte was probably opposing this Thomistic doctrine, which is present in some theological schools within Catholicism.
ɪn kˈɔɪnɪŋ ðə wˈɜːd "ˈɔːltɹuːˌɪzəm", æz stˈeɪɾᵻd əbˈʌv, kˈɑːnt wʌz pɹˈɑːbəbli əpˈoʊzɪŋ ðɪs təmˈɪstɪk dˈɑːktɹɪn, wˌɪtʃ ɪz pɹˈɛzənt ɪn sˌʌm θiːəlˈɑːdʒɪkəl skˈuːlz wɪðˌɪn kæθˈɑːlɪsˌɪzəm.