The article analyzes the ethical and pedagogical ideas of Belarusian enlighteners of the first half of the century. It is noted that the formation of ethical and pedagogical thought of this period was inextricably linked with the development trends of socio-political and philosophical thought of the previous century. The emphasis is placed on the fact that in the first half of the XIX century. social thought acquires a socially revolutionary connotation, attention is focused on the problem of the existence of serfdom in society. Representatives of public thought of that time were absolutely convinced that an oppressed person cannot be happy, just as an oppressor cannot be happy either. Therefore, new moral ideas naturally appeared, the emphasis is even more on the practical and effective orientation of the morality of the individual, the moral ideal is endowed with the features of a fighter against social injustice.