The article is focused on two independent currents in contemporary Russian historiography, which, according to the author, came close to the creation of integrative research paradigm: intellectual history which adopted the experience of Western «New history» and cognitive history, that was formed within the Russian tradition of source analysis. The author's attention revolves around the divergences and points of contact of these two historiographical strands, as well as their common aim, the creation of verified knowledge of the past.