Abstract: The subject of this research is the philosophical idea of progress in interpretation of the French and German theoreticians of the XIX century. The author suggests a hypothesis about the distinction between the triadic forms of progress, which signify the development of the humanitarian structures of society, as well as the progress in science and production. The latter are advancing increasingly, while in the humanitarian fields throughout more than two centuries, progress carried a different (triadic) character. As a result of this research, were determined the peculiarities of the philosophical triad among French; the prevailing scheme was taking its roots from Saint-Simon and meant the transition from the “feudal-theological” society to “metaphysical”, and in future – “industrial” society. The Germans (Hegel, Marx) developed the attitude towards progress according to the Hegel’s principle of alienation and its removal. But if in Hegel defines this dialectics as the movement of the World spirit towards self-cognition, Marx reveals it as a dynamics of labor – from the unity of clan, where an individual is absolutely dependent, to the movements towards alienation of the individual and his property from the clan, and finally, the removal between individual and universal. By comparing the French and German theories of progress, the author attempts to determine their unity and diversity. Scientific novelty consists in the fact that triadic forms of progress emerged at the dawn of capitalism, but the reminiscence of the passing era is still alive. Thus emerge the attempts to build value norms of the future by using the achievements of the past.