The article provides the analysis of new ideals and values of modern Russian society shaped as the result of modernization of the whole system of social and cultural existence. These values and ideals are compared with Russian traditional images of desirable perfection and life priorities. The author uses the elements of the system of norms and values traditional for Russian culture as a starting point for comparison and comes to the conclusion that the level of aspiration in personal and public perfection is decreasing, new ideals and values are inspirationless, spiritless and earthbound. The decline in the spheres of values and norms and values and sense of modern Russian society makes the problem of methodological and value grounds for the cultural policy of modern Russia topical. The author suggests using the conception of cultural vitalism as the valid ground for modernization of Russian culture because the conception provides the criteria of usefulness and harmfulness of actions and spontaneous processes.