The book examines the main ideas introduced by Western European philosophy into the treasury of world social thought, their birth and enrichment in a dramatic clash between themselves and in an organic connection with the development of civilization and culture. The author, a well-known specialist in the field of the history of philosophy, focuses the readers' attention on the reflections of outstanding thinkers of past centuries, who retain their enduring significance and serve to form the ideals and values ​ ​ of the modern world. Some of the ideas and conclusions proposed by the author are debatable.