The book examines the ideas of the outstanding Russian philosopher Evald Vasilyevich Ilyenkov dedicated primarily issues of identity, self-awareness, imagination and fantasy. The authors show that the value of these ideas go beyond the time when they were formulated, and contingencies beyond the context in which they are incurred. Particular attention is paid to the modern value of these ideas for psychology, psychiatry, pedagogy and other sciences of man. Analysis E.Ilenkova ideas goes to study methodological problems of modern human sciences. It is shown, inter alia, that the issue of imagination and fantasy is one of the most important epistemological and methodological problems. However, an analysis is given in the broad context of the history of philosophy. EVIlyenkov ideas are compared with the works and ideas of philosophical classics: Spinoza, Fichte, Hegel, Marx. Articles are written by well-known philosophers, psychologists and educators. Some works E.Ilenkova, in particular his work on B.Spinoze, published for the first time.