The beginning of the 21st century is marked by high speed and large-scale social changes. The characteristics of modernity are pluralism of norms and values, fractionalization and fragmentation of socio-cultural space, constantly changing scale of assessment of value priorities, speedy devaluation of socio-cultural phenomena, reduction of social distances, increase in communication, globalization changing socio-cultural phenomena. The main purpose of this paper is to present a brief historical and philosophical analysis of the development of ideas on social transformations. The considered problem of social transformations is at the junction of different directions of socio-cultural knowledge, so the methodological basis of this study is a comprehensive interdisciplinary approach, including the elements of analysis, comparison and generalization. The logic of the analysis of social transformations in the 20th century is revealed. The concept of Ulrich Beck’s metamorphosis is presented, the methodological potential of the concept «metamorphosis» is shown. It is suggested that not all concepts presented in Western philosophy are capable of explaining socio-cultural changes in Russia.