EN
A real dimension of present day development challenges is of civilisational naturę. It results from the fact that contemporary development megatrends seem to lead to the end of the consumer and industrial civilisation. The aim of this study is identification of the new pattems of thinking, acting and social order in the western society. The following issues are discussed: civilisation at the cross-roads, crisis of western consciousness, patterns of „realistic” and „metarealistic” thinking, possible visions of the futurę and perspectives of an alternative society. The study leads to conclusion that perspectives of the new pattems of development are conected with changes in the consciousness of contemporary man.