The Growth of Knowledge as Driving Force of the Historical Process: E.V. de Roberty’s Theory of Progress

<jats:p>This article is devoted to examining the views of the Russian sociologist E.V. de Roberty de Castro de la Cerda on the issue of progress. Studying the development of pre-Soviet Russian sociology – including the discourse on progress – remains relevant today due to the need to assimilate its experience and Russia’s sphere of val-ues safeguard. The work analyzes the Russian sociologist’s major works noting his actualization of a positivist-evolutionist approach characterized by a certain degree of psychological reductionism. The author’s under-standing of progress is shaped within an original “biosocial theory” and the concept of “superorganic” reality. The growth of knowledge and practical activity serve as the source of progress. The ultimate goal of progress is a moral personality formation. It is viewed as an objective law rooted in people’s social actions caused by psy-chological factors. The author formulates the “law of the four factors of civilization”, according to which the pri-mary driving elements for progress are science, philosophy, art, and practical activity (labour).</jats:p>