Lifelong Learning Program at the Instituto Allende

04/03/2026

Ethics with Austen
March 19 and 20 1-3pm MXN 325

Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice is more than a beloved romantic novel—it is also a rich exploration of the moral choices people face in family, friendship, and society. In this lively, discussion-based course, we will use Austen’s classic story to explore how different ethical frameworks—such as utilitarianism, care ethics, relational ethics, contract theory, and deontological ethics—shape the decisions we make and the responsibilities we carry.

Together we’ll consider questions that remain as relevant today as they were in Austen’s time: How do we balance personal happiness with family duty? When should we follow social expectations—and when should we challenge them? What does it mean to act with integrity in a complicated world?

We will also place the novel within its historical and cultural context while examining the timeless moral dilemmas faced by Elizabeth Bennet, Mr. Darcy, and the society around them.

Participants are welcome to read the novel (free edition here: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/1342/1342-h/1342-h.htm) or watch a film adaptation beforehand. This course emphasizes lively conversation and shared reflection rather than lecture.

Register at the Instituto Allende or online at https://www.instituto-allende.edu.mx/lifelonglearning

04/03/2026

Logic with Sherlock
March 16 and 17 1-3pm MXN 325

Step into the sharp, fascinating world of Sherlock Holmes and discover how great detective stories can teach us about great thinking. Using the beloved tales of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle as our guide, this course introduces the principles of logic—the philosophical discipline concerned with clear, precise reasoning—in a lively, accessible, and deeply enjoyable way. Together we’ll examine how Holmes observes, interprets, and reasons his way to the truth, and what his methods can teach us about our own thinking in everyday life.

Along the way, we’ll explore epistemology—the branch of philosophy that asks how we know what we know. What is the difference between believing something and truly knowing it? How do we evaluate evidence? How do our assumptions help—or mislead—us? We’ll also take a thoughtful look at how women have historically been excluded from or dismissed within conversations about logic and reasoning, and what that means today.

This course is highly conversational rather than lecture-driven, inviting participants to think together, question together, and enjoy spirited dialogue. Bring your curiosity—and your metaphorical magnifying glass!

09/02/2026

Many Coats, Many Colors:
Jewish Clothing Across Time and Place

February 9 and 11 1-3pm MXN 325

Clothing is never just about what we wear—it tells stories about who we are, where we belong, and how we navigate the world. Across centuries and continents, Jewish clothing has reflected faith, gender roles, social status, tradition, adaptation, and identity in remarkable ways. This richly illustrated course explores how Jewish communities dressed within the cultures that surrounded them while also developing distinctive garments, symbols, and styles that expressed religious devotion, community affiliation, and personal meaning. From everyday dress to ceremonial clothing, participants will discover how fashion reveals creativity, resilience, continuity, and—at times—survival itself. No background in fashion or Jewish history is required; just curiosity and a love of visual storytelling.

Instructor Bio:
Phillip Silver is an internationally acclaimed designer of stage, costume, and lighting with nearly 300 productions to his credit across Canada, the United States, and the West End. A former Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts at York University and a member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts, he brings a designer’s eye and a storyteller’s sensibility to this visually engaging exploration of cultural history.

REGISTER at the Instituto Allende or online at https://www.instituto-allende.edu.mx/lifelonglearning

To register, you can see the courses by clicking on the icons below. After viewing the courses, please return to this page and scroll down to the bottom of the page to the enrollment section where you can choose all your courses, check out and pay in an easy process.

03/02/2026

Water Security in Mexico, Guanajuato,
and here in San Miguel

FREE presentation on a February 10 1-3pm. Register at https://www.instituto-allende.edu.mx/en/cursosllp

This course will update participants on the water crisis in Guanajuato and some effective responses to it as well as actions we can all take in our own homes. It will be taught by Dylan Terrell, the founder of Caminos de Agua, and his staff of the highly respected nonprofit working in our region on the water crisis. Lifelong Learning offers it free as a public service.

The Alto Río Laja Watershed stretches across seven municipalities in northern Guanajuato State in Central Mexico. Ninety-nine percent of the water consumed in this region comes from a large underground reservoir known as the Alto Río Laja Aquifer, which serves several thousand distinct communities – including San Miguel de Allende. The aquifer supplies water to over 700,000 residents. Our aquifer is declining at an alarming rate, over 1 meter per year on average and as high as 3 meters per year. The underground water that remains is contaminated with arsenic and fluoride – up to 23 times the World Health Organization recommendations and official Mexican limits. These contaminants are incredibly difficult to remove from water supplies and are associated with numerous impacts on health, including developmental disabilities in children, skin disease, dental and crippling skeletal fluorosis, chronic kidney disease, and even several types of cancer.

Dylan Terrell is the Founder and Executive Director of Caminos de Agua. He is an Ashoka Fellow and oversees all of Caminos' programming. He focuses much of his time on institutional collaborations, public policy initiatives, and coalition building. In the early years, he helped build and coordinate many of Caminos core programs, including water quality monitoring, technology development, rainwater harvesting, education, and other community projects. Members of the Caminos staff will assist in teaching this class.