Stasys Šalkauskis was born on 15 May 1886 in Ariogala, a small town (now in Raseiniai District). While still a young child, he moved with his family to Šiauliai, where his father, Julijonas Šalkauskis, served as the town’s mayor for a decade. In Šiauliai, Stasys grew up and matured; it was here that his personality developed and his worldview took shape. Šalkauskis studied at the Šiauliai Boys’ Gymnasium. At that time, Lithuania was occupied by Tsarist Russia, whose authorities pursued a strict policy of Russification, suppressing the Lithuanian language and culture. However, democratic and Lithuanian national ideas were widespread among the students of the Šiauliai Gymnasium. Šalkauskis also became involved in Lithuanian activities and chose the path of a patriot. After graduating from gymnasium in 1905, Stasys went to study law and economics at Moscow University in Russia. Here, he had his first closer encounter with philosophy. After graduating from university, Šalkauskis settled in Samarkand (Uzbekistan) and worked as a lawyer. However, this work did not bring him satisfaction. He was increasingly drawn to philosophy. Šalkauskis began publishing philosophical articles in the Lithuanian press. Soon, he had the opportunity to receive a scholarship for philosophy studies in Western Europe. Thus, in 1915, Šalkauskis went to Switzerland and began his studies at the Catholic University of Fribourg.