p The material, economic relations of people constitute the basis of social development. But to understand this development, knowledge of the economic factors alone is far from sufficient. Besides productive activity, people and society have an intellectual life. People are guided by definite philosophical, political, moral and aesthetic ideas, they have corresponding scientific theories, and so on. All these ideas and views are of a social character as regards their origin and importance, and belong to the sphere of social consciousness.

Social consciousness is of great significance in historical development. To gain a more complete idea of society we have to ascertain what social consciousness is, how it originated and what role it plays in society’s life.