V. P. Krutous is a famous esthetician, Honored Professor of Moscow State University. M. V. Lomonosov; before his eyes and with his participation, a significant stage in the development of the philosophy of art and aesthetic thought has passed, from the late 70s of the 20th century to the present. Some characteristic trends and patterns of this stage are generalized and interpreted by him on the pages of this book. The main idea of the entire work is indicated in the title; this is, firstly, a reflection of the “spirit of the times” in the aesthetic quests and concepts of theorists and, secondly, the contribution of the thinkers themselves to the further development of society, its aesthetic and artistic culture. The author’s close attention to the philosophical, aesthetic and cultural thought of the past is organically combined with his keen interest in the most pressing, controversial issues of our time. Previously published works have been newly edited by the author specifically for this publication. The book is addressed to readers specializing in the field of aesthetics, history and theory of art, as well as a wide range of readers interested in the processes of renewal and development in these areas of spiritual life. The publisher's original is saved in PDF A4 format layout of the book.