The article considers the philosophical and historical terminology used by N.I. Kareyev, in particular, the definition of such concepts as the philosophy of history, sociology, historiosophy, historca and their relationship to each other. For an adequate study of the philosophical heritage of Russian thinkers, in particular, the narodniks, it is proposed to use such a concept as "philosophy (of) history". It is shown that the philosophical and historical views of the narodniks developed in the mainstream of the philosophy of positivism. However, the narodniks were not the epigones of positive philosophy, but creatively and critically approached its principles, seeking to develop an independent, original view of history.