The Universe, wrote G. Leibniz, is an ocean, so that the slightest movement in it resonates at the most distant distance. In the endless “web” of relationships and connections is the life of the world. The development of the world is an irreversible, definite, directed and natural change in material and ideal objects, leading to the emergence of a new quality. The development of the world is based not on random events, but on events arising from the very essence of the object and from the type of its interaction with the surrounding world. The interaction of opposites is a contradiction, which is the deepest source, basis and final cause of the emergence, self-movement and development of objects. In the constant struggle of opposing forces, old and new, humanity moves forward. The socio-historical process is the development of society along the path of progress, towards a reasonable and fair future, it is the evolutionary ascent of human consciousness. A special place in elucidating the problem of historical progress belongs to Hegel. He views history as a single and natural process in which each era, being unique, is at the same time a necessary step in the overall development of mankind. History is a single global process, the general, single criterion of which is the concept of freedom. Hegel emphasized that the development of society is progressive in nature due to the fact that it reveals progress in the consciousness of freedom. The world history of mankind is a necessary process of the natural progressive movement of mankind from some forms of its social organization to others, more perfect. The development of the world proceeds from simple to complex, becoming more complex, creating levels of a higher order.