This article is an attempt to systematize concepts and to create complex approach for examining ideas about social science of Russian sociologist and publicist of XIX century Nikolay Kostantinovich Mikhaylovsky by defining aims, purposes, object, subject, method and the other elements of science. The main attention is paid to the subject method of knowledge. The social science proposed by N.K. Mikhaylovsky is determined as one of the first attempts to develop a methodology for the national political science.

Key words: Populist journalism, social science, subject method of knowledge, socialism.