Jacques Rancière is a contemporary philosopher who theorises about everyday social life. His writings explore an anti-positivist social history, linking it with contemporary political thought. He positions the 'sensible' as a political construct, as a way of both being and transcending the conditions of cultural and social life. Rancière's oeuvre spans conceptions of democracy, equality, politics and aesthetics. His work offers a conceptual toolbox and critical touchstone for curators, critics, pedagogues and artists. In this article, the author describes how Rancière explores the relationships between the philosopher and the poor, and between the child and the pedagogue.