The article analyzes the social ideals of the famous Kabardin enlightener D.S. Kodzokov, who devoted his life to the development of civilization in Kabarda, clearly understanding the role of education in changing of the traditional order of mountain society. The name of Kodzokov is associated with attempts to inculcate in Kabarda new forms of administration in the 1840s, to open a school for the residents of his native Abukov’s village, to carry out agrarian and social reforms, to promote the development of agriculture and horse breeding. In the foundation of his public stance lay the elements of Europeanism, which were formed in the everyday life of Moscow aristocracy, in the Moscow University where he learned, through the reading and analysis of European and Russian philosophical works. It is also remarkable that he was not the only «Don Quixote» of his time. Side by side with him Kabardin Kazi Atazhukin, Abazin Adil-Girey Keshev, Ossetians Inal Kanukov, Afanasy Gassiev, Ingush Chakh Akhriev, Chechen Umalat Laudaev and others worked for the benefit of the mountain peoples.