In the book "On the Social Ideal" P.I. Novgorodtsev (1866-1924) develops the idea of ​ ​ a metaphysical justification of the social ideal and shows the impossibility of embodying it in any separate rationally organized social system. The connection of the ideal with reality is conceived by him as the embodiment of the Divine law, which predetermines the course of human history, while the existence of a person in its activity to realize the ideal acquires a religious meaning. This publication also includes articles by P.I. Novgorodtseva "The idea of ​ ​ law in the philosophy of V.S. Solovyov," "Democracy at the crossroads" and "Restoration of shrines."