THE SCHOOL OF WONDER · Philosophical exercises

Deià, Mallorca, 10-11 November 2026

We will read, share, go deeper into the essential questions of life, open ourselves to wonder and reflect on the age-old fear of living.

For centuries, philosophy was not a subject to be studied but a way of life to be practised. The Stoics, Epicureans and Platonists trained every day: they learned to pay attention, to look at the world anew, to worry less about what cannot be controlled. The French philosopher Pierre Hadot called these practices spiritual exercises, and showed that ancient texts sought not to inform but to transform those who read them.

This gathering takes up that tradition. Over a weekend, in a small group, we will read aloud philosophers from East and West, talk about the essential questions of life, and practise exercises of attention, of looking, of imagination. No background in philosophy is needed: only curiosity, and a willingness to open up to the new and set down old baggage.

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Who guides the gathering

Pablo Corral Vega

Photographer, writer and philosophical counselor. His work has appeared in National Geographic, The New York Times and Smithsonian. Pablo published eight books —for one of them, Andes, Mario Vargas Llosa wrote twenty short stories. He studied philosophy at Harvard as a Nieman Fellow and was Secretary of Culture of Quito, the capital of Ecuador. A lawyer by training, he runs a law firm in Quito and holds a master’s degree in the Philosophy of Care from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, with a thesis on tenderness, and is writing a book on the philosophy of tenderness.

But the only thing that matters here is that he has spent his life training a single thing: attention. That —and not a diploma— is what he brings to this gathering.

An event promoted and organized by Instituto Antares, Mallorca

The theme

The philosophy of tenderness

For years I have been thinking about tenderness as a way of being in the world. This weekend we will explore this idea along three paths that intertwine:

• Amor fati. Nietzsche asked us not merely to endure the life we have had, but to love it. Can we be tender with our own life, just as it has been?
• East and West. The Daodejing says that the tender and the supple are on the side of life. We will set it in conversation with the Stoics and the mystics.
• The philosophy of otherness. Martin Buber, Emmanuel Levinas, Simone Weil: the other as someone who calls on me and transforms me.

The practical side

What to expect

• When. Tuesday 10 and Wednesday 11 of November 2026, from 10:00 to 18:00.
• Where. In Deià, Mallorca. We will send you the exact address when we confirm your place.
• Language. English. (There is also a gathering in Spanish on 7–8 November: see it here.)
• Fee. 160 euros.
• A commitment. If something happens and you cannot come, let me know as soon as possible, so that someone else can take your place.
• Healthy snacks, a casual lunch and coffee/tea/water will be provided. If you feel like it, a dish brought along to share, would be very welcome.

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