The article reveals the essence of the concept of “responsible person” and the problem of its пenesis. Different theoretical and methodological approaches to its definition are shown. The phenomenon of social responsibility is considered as the basis of productive social creativity. The author analyzes the main trends and the nature of the process of formation of social responsibility of the individual in modern conditions. Particular attention is paid to increasing the role of personal responsibility in times of social instability and uncertainty. The accumulated experience of scientific understanding of the concept of «social responsibility» is revealed. Specific features of social responsibility and its interpretation in the works of F.Bastia, I. A. Ilyin, P. A. Kropotkin, I. I. Lapshin, N. O. Lossky, V. S. Solovyov, N. F. Fedorov, and others.