What alternative did Mach propose to Comte's belief regarding the hierarchy of sciences?

Mach proposed that psychology should be regarded as the primary science, suggesting that all other sciences stem from it. This perspective challenges Comte's positivist hierarchy, which positioned physics at the top of the scientific hierarchy. Mach's viewpoint recognizes the importance of understanding human experiences and perceptions as foundational to studying all other phenomena, thus placing psychology in a central role in the scientific landscape. This approach emphasizes the role of mental processes and subjective experiences, which are often seen as the basis for interpreting and interacting with the natural world.

In contrast, the other choices represent different views of the hierarchy of sciences that do not align with Mach's focus on psychology. For instance, proposing physics or biology as the basis of all sciences diminishes the central role that psychological understanding plays in comprehending human behavior and societal structures. This distinction highlights Mach's novel emphasis on the subjective realm in the study of science.