Протосоциологическая традиция в становлении категории “интерес”

The authors critically examine distinctive features of theoretical discourses regarding the interest category within a number of protosociological scientific paradigms. Particu lar attention is paid to analysis and systematization of the main ideas about essence, functions and mechanisms of interest developed and accumulated by social and human sciences in the period before a proper sociological cognition. The emphasis is placed not so much on criticism of protosociological theories as on revealing semanticload of the interest category.