An important distinctive feature of “knowledge society” forming nowadays that is changing of the type of thinking and of the role of formal information and of “human knowledge” in it is studied. The educational system in Russia introducing all ideals and principles of information society that is based on principles of development of technologies and programming products, presentation of information in modules, estimation of students’ knowledge in competences, is unveiled.
Signifi cant changes in conceptual defi nitions in linguistic education consisting in introduction of technical terminology are noted. The essential change of situation in “knowledge society” when “living knowledge” will shift the instrumental intelligence is shown.