The volume tells the story of the modern world through 25 investigations based on the historical development of the concepts of "state," "revolution," "enlightenment," "emancipation," "education," and "utopia." It consistently highlights the dual status of these terms and their roles as indicators and factors in the historical process. The semantic-pragmatic analysis of the concepts reveals both continuities and turning points in social and cultural history, thereby providing a unique form of historical experience: the history of these terms becomes a medium for the historical self-clarification of the present.