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This paper proposes a historical rereading of some notions currently explored in the field of adult education research, namely informal learning and social competence. Some writings on adult education published at the end of the 19th century show how similar notions already existed, how they were referred to and promoted. The following examples are extracted from texts about «  éducation sociale » (social education), written between 1895 and 1905, when the use of this expression literally exploded. It was promoted mainly by two opposing figures: Léon Bourgeois (founder of Solidarisme) and Marc Sangnier (leader of Le Sillon), as well as secular promoters of the Popular Universities.This paper will show how people, rather than enrol in specific courses taught by instructors, were encouraged to become directly involved in the activities of collectives (associations, cooperative movements, trade unions) so as to gain first-hand experience and hence a deeper understanding of what solidarity really is.Moreover, the project aims to study the development of adult education in connection with the emergence of the Social Question which arose in the middle of the 19th century, and the role which nascent sociology played in it.