Theory of creative social altruism by P.A. Sorokin is scrutinized including its genesis, methodological framework and specifics. Differences in understanding altruism in pre-revolutionary Russia vs. Western Europe are emphasized. The conception of creative altruism by P.A. Sorokin is seen to contain an imposition of Western rationalistic and Russian ethical philosophical tradition on treatment of altruistic behavior. Contemporary approaches to altruism and pro-social phenomena are presented.