About Us

Who We Are

We’re a Helena-based public philosophy non-profit dedicated to enriching lives and strengthening the community & environment through philosophy.

Meet the Team

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Marisa Diaz-Waian

Founder/Director & Community Philosopher

Smiling attractive woman with dark hair

Tricia L. Clemons

Administrative & Donor Relations Director

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David Nowakowski

Community Philosopher & Senior Fellows Mentor

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Mitchell Conway

Community Philosopher & Youth Programs Advisor

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Luciano

The Merlin Meower & Our Beloved Mascot

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Our Board

Arnold McMahon

J. Angelo Corlett

Troy DaRonco

Mike McGuire 

Our Volunteers

In Memoriam Volunteers & Friends

Martin Richard (1947-2024) was a dear friend & one of Merlin’s first volunteers. He gave his time, expertise, energy, and every wildly fun ounce of his sense of humor & imagination to our organization through the end of his life.  A regular philosophy walk leader for our Halloween Hayride-Walks for youth, curriculum development contributor, and guest speaker for various philosophy in the community endeavors, his enthusiasm was inspiring and contagious & his ability to translate complex ideas in relatable and ways remarkable.  

David Spencer (1948 -2024) was a dear friend, mentor, and influential player in Merlin’s inception and community programs throughout the years. While many of his contributions were behind the scene — percolating from conversations about various philosophers and ideas, book recommendations, and other humanities-driven dialogue — he was also a regular participant at our community activities and an avid & vocal advocate for our work.

Our Volunteers

Why Philosophy?

Philosophy is the backbone of civil discourse and the heartbeat of a critical, creative and thinking community. Watch our video below.

Students learning in the Merlin Nature Preserve's outdoor classroom.

What We Believe

The idea that philosophy has a practical side is not new. Many ancient traditions conceived of philosophy in these terms (i.e., as a way of life), as well as a practice concerned with knowledge and understanding. For many, if not most, of these thinkers, the art of thinking​ and ​the art of living​ were two sides of the same coin, both of which were integral to the philosophical life in general, as well as the strength, resilience and health of a community as a whole and the lives of the individuals within that community.  To echo Pierre Hadot, John M. Cooper and thinkers like Socrates and Plato, the Stoics, Chu Hsi, Nietzsche, Descartes, Aristotle, Spinoza, and many more: the love of wisdom does not merely just cause us to ‘know’, “it makes us ‘be’ in a different way.” 

We believe in the value and relevance of philosophy and its ability to transform and improve our everyday lives. We also believe that it is (and should be) a resource for everyone — regardless of background or age — and that it is not meant to be closed away in some book, but to be lived.

Marisa Diaz-Waian, Founder/Director

We see philosophy as a “hands in dirt” activity rooted in the joys, sorrows, and challenges of everyday life and believe that cultivating this side of ourselves has tremendous value.  It’s not just an activity that involves careful and rigorous thought but also a mechanism for thriving and fulfillment.

Philosophy as a good in itself

The idea that something can be a good in itself might sound odd. But philosophy fits the bill. It is a genuinely fun, exciting & challenging activity that is beautiful and worth doing for its own sake. And it’s also about as practical as you can get.

a Compass & Navigational Tool

Philosophy is often thought of as nothing more than pointless musings with no practical effect.  But nothing could be further from the truth. Philosophy is a valuable compass & navigational tool that can help you find your way. 

Why philosophy? So that one might be better for the rest of their lives.

— Plato (paraphased)

In its commitment to “follow reason where reason guides” & “get closer to the truth about a matter,” philosophy helps us clarify and answer matters of thought (ideas, concepts, emotions, etc.) & action (behavior).  In other words, philosophy helps us remain open to the world and understand what we think & why and, further, whether or not our thoughts are philosophically justified.  It also helps us translate these (conceptual) activities into practical terms (actions/behavior) so that we can structure our lives in ways that help to promote health & happiness and enrich our lives (and the lives of others) in meaningful ways.

Some of the skills & Dispositions that Philosophy helps cultivate

  • Sharpens analytical skills
  • Helps with problem-solving
  • Sparks & sustains imagination and curiosity
  • Helps clarify thoughts & feelings
  • Deepens awareness about your experiences in the world & the world around you
  • Informs decision-making & action plans
  • Contributes to a feeling of fulfillment
  • Builds character & strength
  • Encourages creative thinking
  • Cultivates compassion & empathy
  • Develops skills & confidence to ask good questions
  • Provides & expands perspective
  • Helps facilitate good habits & discipline
  • Encourages a disposition of openness & wonder
  • And so much more…

Why a philosophical Approach is Valuable

In addition to the sheer joy & beauty of engaging in philosophy as an end in itself, taking a philosophical approach to life can be very advantageous. Simply put, it can help us “clear the thicket” of our thinking in meaningful ways by facilitating a kind of perceptual capacity that allows us to narrow our focus (much like a scientist in a lab looking through a microscope) and broaden our view (to include connections beyond the microscope to the world beyond and within). Philosophy can also help us identify & examine some of the philosophical undercurrents present beneath our (and others’) thinking/reasoning while, importantly, also providing us with a set of tools to navigate those spaces in between. 

Philosophy arms us with a set of oars & a looking glass and a means by which to approach, recognize & more successfully navigate the vicissitudes inherent in life.

— Marisa Diaz-Waian, Community Philosopher & Founder/Director of Merlin CCC

Hands, Heart & Mind

There are many ways to define philosophy. Our conception of it is inspired by numerous “way of life” traditions that (according to our interpretation) characterizes philosophy as a hands-in-dirt activity involving a full embrace of the “heart & mind” aspects of philosophical thinking and living. In line with the following sentiment, we agree that:

Philosophy is not about authoritative pronouncements.  It is not about one person claiming to be deeper than others or making allegedly wise assertions.  It is about leading the examined life, with humility about how little we really understand, with a commitment to arguments that are rigorous, reciprocal, and sincere, and with a willingness to listen to others as equal participants and to respond to what they offer.”

— Martha Nussbaum, American Philosopher & Erns Freund Distinguished Service Professor of Law & Ethics at the University of Chicago

A Thinking Activity, Way of Life & Art

  • Philosophy is a thinking activity.  This means that you approach any topic of investigation you encounter in a way that honors critical, creative thinking (reasoning) & employ methods commonly associated with philosophy, such as argument, refutation, systematic doubt, logic, justification of belief, and so forth.
  • Philosophy is also a way of life.  This means that you approach a topic of investigation & experiences in your life with certain dispositions, including open-mindedness, a sense of wonder, imagination, sincerity, humility, and dialectical justness.
  • Together, philosophy (as a thinking activity & way of life), is an art. 

The Questions of Philosophy are the Questions of Life

Philosophy is concerned with a lot things, all of which in some form and to varying degrees, concern questions having to do with the human condition, our lives, and the world around us.  In other words, the questions of philosophy are the questions of life.  

While philosophy frequently entails examination and reflection about general and often abstract questions (e.g., what is justice? what is beauty? what is fairness?), typically it is in the particular features of our lives that these questions are raised. The capacity to identify abstract questions of everyday experience, to see as Bertrand Russell professed, “familiar things in an unfamiliar aspect,” is central to philosophical sensitivity [and philosophy as a thinking activity, a way of life, and an art.]

— Jana Mohr Lone, Philosopher & Founder of PLATO

Darien Pollock said it really well in his article, “Philosophizing in the Streets”:  all philosophical dispositions are products of a “street disposition.” Philosophy “presupposes a particular kind of civic engagement.” 

Some Areas of Philosophy

Traditionally, areas of philosophical inquiry are broken into what we fondly refer to as “the four cornerstones of (human) living”: Metaphysics, Ethics, Epistemology & Logic.

  • Metaphysics. The way the world is. Questions about what sorts of things exist & their nature.
  • Ethics. What we should do. Questions about how one should & ought to live. (In ancient philosophical traditions, ethics were derived from/part-and-parcel with metaphysics. Ethics was not a sperate branch of study.)
  • Epistemology. What we can know. Questions about how/what we can know & our justificatory platform for claiming so.
  • Logic. What is good versus bad reasoning. Questions about the correct principles of reasoning.

Within these pillars lie a variety of specialties which speak to the layers & complexity of life (e.g. philosophy of science, existentialism, environmental ethics, aesthetics, philosophy of mind, eastern philosophy, philosophy of religion, personal identity, philosophy of language).  Philosophy’s investigatory journeys are led by reason & the general maxim that “the unexamined life is not worth living.” 

Philosophical Sensitivity

When talking about embracing philosophy as a “thinking activity, an art, and a way of life,” its important to consider what sorts of things facilitate might facilitate this. Cultivating “philosophical sensitivity” is a helpful (and we feel necessary) means by which to do so. 

The development of a general capacity to engage in questioning and reflection about the…questions underlying the human condition and the world in which we live.  It is a kind of ‘perceptual capacity’ — in the Aristotelian sense of a natural faculty that can be developed over time and with training..[.] We traditionally recognize as important the development of [our] physical selves, intellectual selves, moral selves, and social and emotional selves, but we pay little attention to the cultivation of the philosophical self. Consequently, the philosophical selves…remain undeveloped…This is a loss.”

— Jana Mohr Lone, Philosopher & Founder of PLATO
  • Why philosophical sensitivity is important to the practice of philosophy. Philosophical sensitivity is an important aspect of approaching life philosophically and a critical skill (and ‘virtue’) to develop.  Just like other forms of sensitivity — like that of a naturalist, for example, that involves (according to J.M. Lohr) a particular sort of awareness about the world that enables her to “see relationships, details, and changes in the natural world that many of us [who have not cultivated this sense of awareness might] miss” — philosophical sensitivity involves a particular way of “seeing” and reflecting upon the world that equips us with important mechanisms by which to make sense of & navigate the world and our everyday lives. 

Philosophical sensitivity is like a pair of eyeglasses that allow you to pick up on the philosophical dimensions of life that you would not have without putting them on. This “perceptual capacity or faculty” is important and integral to embracing philosophy as “a thinking activity, an art, and way of life.”  It is necessary but not sufficient for the latter, which has the distinguishing feature of pushing further by demanding that one never take these glasses off.

— Marisa Diaz-Waian, Community Philosopher & Founder/Director of Merlin CCC
  • How to cultivate philosophical sensitivity. How do we cultivate philosophical sensitivity?  In two words:  practice & training. “You got to lace up and get in the game!” There are a number of ways to do this.  Here are some examples offered by Jana Mohr Lone.
  • Engage in structured philosophical conversations
  • Read philosophical works
  • Listen to philosophical lectures
  • Observe the facilitation of philosophy discussions
  • Take philosophy classes
  • Participate in a community of philosophical inquiry (in which philosophical topics are explored in a collaborative group)

Some Common Misconceptions

  • Philosophy is not simply whatever one believes about a matter.  Everyone can have a “philosophy” about something, of course, but this is not the same as philosophy as a discipline, activity or practice (i.e., approaching something philosophically).
  • Philosophy is not just concerned with thoughts and ideas.  Actions and behavior are important! In other words, philosophy is not just interested in “reflection” or “contemplation.”  It also values putting things to the (practical) test.  For example, conclusions drawn from philosophical reflection and contemplation can have a significant impact on the structure and success of our government, legal, educational, and healthcare systems.
  • Philosophy is not all the same in terms of quality.  Scholarship and intent matters.  Philosophical activity should be rigorous and be led with the intent of following reason where reason guides us and getting closer to the truth about a matter.  As is the case with any discipline…there are better and worse instances of philosophy.
  • Philosophy is not simply fancy speech or technical writing.  The ability to present an argument clearly and concisely requires a person to have a certain level of command over her speaking (or writing).  This may or may not involve “fancy words or “technical speech.”  But even if it does, this does not mean that philosophy is nothing more than its speech or writing.  In the end, one should remember that a goal of philosophy (regardless of one’s particular style) should be to make the unclear more clear (not the opposite).
  • Philosophy is not propaganda and rarely what we see on t.v. There are many cases in pop culture (some propagandistic, others not) where activities are incorrectly referred to as ‘philosophical’ or ‘representative of the discipline of philosophy’…but are not really cases of either (e.g., they might lack the scholastic rigor or have the goal of persuading audiences regardless of an interest in the truth about a matter).  This is not to say that there are not legitimate cases of philosophy in pop culture….there are.  It is just more of a rarity to encounter these than commonplace.
  • Philosophy is not not concerned with answers.  While questions can certainly arise as a result of a discussion about a matter (hence leading to more questions than answers), the “north star”(or guiding light) of philosophy is still always reason and getting closer to truth about a matter (an answer) still always a (the) motivating factor.  An answer that is in line with reason and supported by evidence is a better answer than one that lacks such qualities.
  • Philosophy is not interested in telling people what to believe. Instead, what is of paramount import is helping people discover for themselves what they believe and why (and whether what they believe is justified).  While a philosopher may have a particular belief about a matter, and may in the process of discussion share this view, her primary aim is assisting others give labor to thought.
  • Philosophy is not the same as debating or arguing.  While philosophy involves debate and argumentation, it is not equivalent to such activities. Getting closer to the truth about a matter is an imperative of philosophy. Arguing a position just for the sake of arguing (i.e., engaging in discussion simply to “showcase one’s talents of rhetoric” or without regard to getting closer to the truth about something) is not the same as engaging in philosophy or philosophical discussion.
  • Philosophy is not irrelevant to matters of everyday living. While it is true that some of philosophy’s subject matters are (or seem) “somewhat out there,” it is not the case that all (or even any) of its subject matters are removed from matters of everyday living.  Philosophy is, at its core, grounded in the here and now, not some otherworld.  Its aims include getting closer to the truth about such matters as justice, rights, knowledge, virtue, and happiness…and translating this into action.
  • Philosophy is not opposed to passion, feelings, emotion and imagination. There is no doubt that philosophy values the use of reason. It is the driving force behind philosophical thinking.  But just because philosophy gives reason preferential treatment, does not mean that it disregards passion, feelings, emotion, and imagination.  Passions (as Plato intimates with his horse & carriage analogy) offer an important momentum and “wind” to philosophical reasoning and life. In fact, the process of reasoning — as many researchers have discovered — is extremely emotional, creative, and highly complex. All of these play an important role in critical thinking.
  • Philosophy is not just another name for logic.  While philosophy uses logic it is not the same as logic.  Logic is a tool of philosophy that supports the application of reason.  Logic helps us to distinguish good reasoning from bad reasoning and is used in critical thinking.
  • Philosophy is not just another name for critical thinking.  True…critical thinking is a central component of philosophy.  But there is more to it than this.  Philosophy is also an art….and way of life.   This means, that in addition to critical thinking, we must also embrace (in our approach to matters of thought and experiences in life) certain character-related attributes (or dispositions) and ways of moving through the world.
  • Philosophy is not just for the classroom.  Many people hold the view that philosophy’s usefulness is confined to the walls of academia.  But this is simply not the case.  Whether we are discussing topics in a classroom, writing or researching, or enjoying conversation with a friend or a walk along the beach, philosophy is useful and relevant to each and every one of us.  Its methods and attributes help us gain clarity, insight, distinguish good from bad arguments, gain perspective, make more informed decisions, and better understand ourselves and experiences.
Philosophy is a “hands-in-dirt” activity rooted in the joys, sorrows, and challenges of everyday life.

— Marisa Diaz-Waian

Our Mission

Our organization’s mission (and what it is that we do) is create, develop, and offer a wide-range of unique & accessible opportunities for people to enjoy the fun & joy of doing philosophy together, and the transformative ways that philosophy can improve and enhance our lives in practical, empowering, and meaningful ways.

Our programs are free to the public and support critical, creative thinking, the exchange of ideas, and the application of philosophy to everyday life. More broadly, they are opportunities for people of all backgrounds and ages (from children to elders) to gather, to learn from and with one another, and to uniquely cultivate their personal and civic selves.

Marisa Diaz-Waian and her father Lee Waian walking in Ennis, MT

Our Inspiration

The story of Merlin — and why it was founded — is one of love and sorrow. Love is easy enough to grasp.  But sorrow is admittedly more opaque.  For Merlin’s Founder & Director, Marisa Diaz-Waian, the two intertwine. Merlin was founded in 2014, shortly-after the death of Lee Waian — Marisa’s adoptive father, teacher, mentor, and best friend (buddy)….and for the last 12+ years of his life as he struggled with Parkinson’s, his caregiver.

Love & Sorrow

“On the one hand, Merlin is a natural, albeit non-traditional, extension of my academic training in philosophy which sees the discipline in its most robust form as a “hands in dirt” activity rooted in the joys, sorrows, and challenges of everyday life.  On the other, it is a very personal (albeit public) way for me to philosophically navigate my father’s death – of grieving his loss, of honoring his life, and (as I have come to discover) of remaining open to the lessons he continues to teach.” 
Marisa Diaz-Waian
Merlin CCC, Founder & Director

At the time of her father’s death, Marisa was in grad school working on her Masters in philosophy. The two lived together in Oceanside, CA with the plan of returning to Helena, MT after her graduation.

Philosophy & Transformation

“When my dad died, there was a new sense of urgency and a more refined, focused vision for what I wanted to do with philosophy and why. I mean, philosophy is worth doing for its own sake. It’s beautiful. I really do believe this. But it’s also about as practical as you can get. It’s worth doing because it can help us flourish & thrive. It can help us get through and make sense of this sticky world together. And so Merlin was born — as a response to my own grief and love for the practice. And & as an invitation for others to find their own way with philosophy. To learn from and with one another, and to experience the joy & transformative power of philosophy. “
Marisa
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Our History

The idea for Merlin CCC was first conceived in 2012, shortly after the death of the founder’s father, Lee B. Waian. Preliminary steps for its not-for-profit operation began the following Spring and, in the Summer of 2014 with the filing of our Articles of Incorporation, Merlin took flight as a non-profit, and received its tax-exempt status less than a year later in April of 2015.

As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization our governance & financial documents are a matter of public record. Donations & contributions are tax-deductible under section 170 of the Internal Revenue Code. Our Tax ID is 47-1479303.