The article examines S.L. Rubinstein’s course of life and provides comparative historical scientific analysis of peripetias of his work with some of his contemporaries (G. Kogen, B.L. Pasternak, M.M. Rubinstein, L.S. Vygotsky etc.). In view of the aforesaid, the article analyses S.L. Rubinstein’s school’s interaction and discussions with the schools of A.N. Leontiev, P.Ya. Galperin, V.V. Davydov and with works of Russian philosophers (E.V. Ilienkov) and psychologists (Ya.A. Ponomarev, V.D. Shadrikov, E.B. Starovoitenko, M.G. Yaroshevsky, etc.). It also characterizes the Development of Rubinstein’s ideas by his students and followers (K.A. Abulkhanova­Slavskaya, A.V. Brushlinsky, etc.). The article explicates roots of Rubinstein’s methodology originated from neo­Kantianism and Marxism. It offers complete periodization of life and work of S.L. Rubinstein, emphasizes and characterizes different layers of his scientific research activity in philosophy and psychology.  Main directions of development of Rubinstein’s scientific school are also differentiated and its significance for modern psychological science is demonstrated.