On the threshold of the 20th century, physics and technology were supposed to bring the realization of everlasting human dreams of an ideal society. On the threshold of the 21st century, the tragedy of September 11th, 2001 remains a symbol of civilization threatened with despair which brings a challenge for humanism. The postmodern philosophy of resignation, pessimism and disappointment undermines the great ideas of the Enlightenment, specifically its belief in man, progress and prosperity. Homo postmodernus appears to be a tragic being doomed in a meaningless wandering around the world of spiritual emptiness. The paper indicates the role of spiritual and intellectual values in this new cultural context to overcome the declarations of the death of human person which remain close to the Nietzschean declaration of the death of God.