Merlin CCC

Philosophy Think & Drink
2025-12-11 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Denver) | Reeder’s Alley Conference Center, 101 Reeder's Alley, Helena, MT, 59601, United States
Fun Gatherings that Stimulate the Mind!
Our Philosophy Think & Drinks are casual, community-oriented gatherings that are intellectually stimulating and fun. You don’t need a background in philosophy to enjoy & participate. An open mind & desire to engage in thoughtful dialogue (whether from a listening or contribution standpoint) is all that’s needed! For those who love philosophy but prefer not to partake in the libations side of things, don’t let that stop you from participating in the fun. We emphasize the think over the drink!
When
2nd Thursday of every month from 7pm-9pm
Where
Reeder’s Alley — If the weather is conducive, we meet outdoors in the pavilion. If it’s cantankerous, we meet indoors in the Conference Center.
Other
Light snacks provided. BYOB.

How Do They Work?
Step into the dojo! Our Think & Drinks are monthly gatherings that consist of a “meeting of minds” over libations. After nabbing goodies and seats, getting acquainted & settling in…the eve begins.

No topics are off-limit; no questions are too broad, narrow, abstract, or concrete. Questions are posed by participants in a “round-robin” fashion, clarified, and then voted upon collectively.
Once our “avenue of philosophical pursuit” is in place, we’re ready to dive into a fun night of facilitated philosophical discussion.

Philosophy Think & Drink
2026-02-12 19:00 - 21:00, 2026-03-12 19:00 - 21:00, 2026-04-09 19:00 - 21:00, 2026-05-14 19:00 - 21:00, 2026-06-11 19:00 - 21:00 | Reeder’s Alley Conference Center, 101 Reeder's Alley, Helena, MT, 59601, United States
Fun Gatherings that Stimulate the Mind!
Our Philosophy Think & Drinks are casual, community-oriented gatherings that are intellectually stimulating and fun. You don’t need a background in philosophy to enjoy & participate. An open mind & desire to engage in thoughtful dialogue (whether from a listening or contribution standpoint) is all that’s needed! For those who love philosophy but prefer not to partake in the libations side of things, don’t let that stop you from participating in the fun. We emphasize the think over the drink!
When
2nd Thursday of every month from 7pm-9pm
Where
Reeder’s Alley — In the colder months, we’ll meet indoors in the Conference Center. In the warmer, we’ll meet outdoors in the Pavilion.
Other
Light snacks provided. BYOB.

How Do They Work?
Step into the dojo! Our Think & Drinks are monthly gatherings that consist of a “meeting of minds” over libations. After nabbing goodies and seats, getting acquainted & settling in…the eve begins.

No topics are off-limit; no questions are too broad, narrow, abstract, or concrete. Questions are posed by participants in a “round-robin” fashion, clarified, and then voted upon collectively.
Once our “avenue of philosophical pursuit” is in place, we’re ready to dive into a fun night of facilitated philosophical discussion.

Philosophy Shorts: The Virtues of the Student
2026-02-18 18:00 - 20:00 | https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88569988299
What We’ll Explore
What are the qualities of an excellent student? Or, as ancient Greek philosophers would put it, what are the virtues, or excellences, which belong to students in general, and especially to students of philosophy?

In this evening’s Zoom program, we’ll examine some short passages on this theme, written by thinkers at both ends of the thousand-year tradition of Hellenic philosophy. We’ll begin with a few short excerpts from Plato, in which Socrates compares the lackluster standards of Athens with the far superior pedagogy of the Persian royal court, and Aristotle on the special class of “intellectual virtues.” We’ll then move nearly 900 years forward in time, to visit with two of the last heads of the Platonic Academy in Athens: Proclus, who famously declares — in a rebuttal of Aristotle — that “the highest good is not contemplation,” and examines three key virtues of young Socrates as a student, and Damascius, who uses this same list of three virtues in some scathing critiques of the intellectuals of his day.

Through lively conversation and dialogue — both with the ancient authors, and with each other — we will explore the goals and methods of education in Hellenic philosophy, and the virtues (or excellences) that correspond to that educational program. And we will consider the applicability of those goals, methods, and virtues to our own lives as students and seekers after wisdom.
WHEN & WHEREWednesday, February 18th6pm-8pm (MST)via Zoom ZOOM INFOTo join: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88569988299?pwd=[REDACTED] ID: 885 6998 8299Passcode: [REDACTED] (Donations appreciated)OTHERView & Download the document. You are welcome to read in advance, but it is not required. We'll be referencing it periodically during our event so having it handy then will be helpful.

About Our Discussion Facilitator

David Nowakowski is a community philosopher and educator whose professional work is dedicated to helping people of all ages and backgrounds access, understand, and apply the traditions of ancient philosophy to their own lives. David began studying ancient philosophies and classical languages in 2001 and has continued ever since.

Read more about David…
A scholar of the philosophical traditions of the ancient Mediterranean (Greece, Rome, and North Africa) and of the Indian subcontinent, reading Sanskrit, Latin, and classical Greek, he earned his Ph.D. in philosophy from Princeton University in 2014. His work has appeared in a variety of scholarly journals, including Philosophy East & West, Asian Philosophy, and the Journal of Indian Philosophy, as well as in presentations to academic audiences at Harvard, Columbia University, the University of Toronto, Yale-NUS College in Singapore, and elsewhere. After half a decade teaching at liberal arts colleges in the northeast, David chose to leave the academy in order to focus his energies on the transformative value of these ancient philosophical and spiritual traditions in his own life and practice, and on building new systems of education and community learning that will make this rich heritage alive and available to others. A hermit by nature and by committed choice, he balances contemplative solitude with his active work in teaching, counseling, and the healing arts. David can be reached at david@merlinccc.org or via his personal website.

Fill out my LGL Form!

Make a Donation Here!

Thank you to Our Community Partners

Piano Concert Fundraiser w/ Johnny Moore
2026-03-14 19:00 - 21:00 | Carroll College (St. Charles Hall), 1601 N. Benton Avenue, Helena, Montana, 59625, United States
For love of the Arts

A fundraiser evening in the old chapel at St. Charles Hall featuring local artist Johnny Moore.

Come enjoy a night of original music and Randy Newman tunes, as Johnny tickles the ivories…and shares stories along the way. All proceeds raised go toward our Special Public Philosophy Project: Art as Transformation.

Event DetailsWHEN & WHERESaturday, March 14th7pm – 9pm (Doors open at 6:30pm)St. Charles Hall (1st Floor, Hall 133)Carroll CollegeOTHERFREE/Suggested Donation $15 at the doorCash BarENTRANCENorth entrance of St. Charles HallWe’ll have a greeter welcoming you at the door and directing you to the old chapel (Room 133, located on the second floor of St. Charles Hall across from the philosophy offices). We’ll have signage up as well. See map below with entrance and parking highlighted or click here for a printable unmarked pdf of the campus map.PARKINGStaff, student, and visitor lots (no permit required)

Save Your Seat for our Piano Concert Fundraiser (RSVP)

While an RSVP is not required, it is much appreciated. RSVP’ing also allows you to save the event directly into your calendar (via the confirmation email you will receive once you RSVP for our event).

About the Artist

Born in Harlowton, Montana, Johnny Moore grew up in Great Falls, where he formed his first band in eighth grade. “Lots more fun than piano lessons,” he recalls. Over the years, he has played in 20 different bands covering the musical gamut – rock, soul, blues and jazz. “And one quasi-country group.” Johnny has been involved with four albums of original music. Two were group efforts (Diamond City and Uncharted Waters), and two were solo albums. “Well,” says Johnny, “those two featured lots of great friends.” His musical friendships led to the founding of Lost & Foundation, a local nonprofit focused on ‘Music Helping Humanity.’

Johnny cites several musical influences. “The first was my father,” he says. “Great jazz pianist.” Others include Steely Dan, Billy Joel and, perhaps most of all, Randy Newman – “delightfully eccentric.”

What’s the EveNING helping to support?

All proceeds raised will help support our June 2026 Art as Transformation Project — an innovative public philosophy program exploring the role of art in society & our everyday lives. Featuring a unique blend of live music, story, performance & media art, and community conversation, the program invites people to consider art and its relationship to human flourishing and personal, civic, and cultural change.

Film & Philosophy: Kafka's "The Trial"
2026-03-22 14:00 - 17:00 | Reeder’s Alley (Stonehouse Grotto), 101 Reeder's Alley, Helena, MT, 59601, United States
What We’ll Be Doing
We’re excited to be resurrecting our film & philosophy events this year. We’ll be kicking off our first in the series with a matinee viewing of The Trial — a 1962 film based on Franz Kafka’s posthumously published novel of the same name.
Described in Orson Welles’ opening narrative as a film with “the logic of a dream…of a nightmare,” The Trial explores the nature of justice (both its beauty and its arbitrariness), law, authority, alienation, bureaucracy, oppression, and (more generally) questions about freedom, choice, meaning, and human condition.
After the film, we’ll have a community conversation led by Student Scholar Fellow Gavin Payne based on questions inspired by the film.
WHENSunday, March 22nd2pm-5pm (MST)WHEREIn the Stonehouse Grotto @ Reeder's AlleyCOSTFree ($5 suggested donation)OTHERBYOB & SnacksFilm Run Time: 1 Hr. 47 MinutesShort break & community conversation to follow

About Our Facilitator

Gavin Payne is a senior at Helena High School, a regular participant at Merlin activities, and our first ever high school student scholar fellow. The founder of the Helena High School Moral Science Club, he aims to go on to the University of Montana to study philosophy and classics. In his free time Gavin loves to read, analyze poetry, and write. Gavin will be leading the Merlin film viewing & discussion nights later this spring and is kicking off with a film adaptation of one of his favorite books, Franz Kafka’s The Trial.

Fill out my LGL Form!

Make a Donation Here!

Thank you to Our Community Partners

Philosophy Workshop: Nothing More than Feelings? Emotion & the Good Life
2026-03-25 18:00 - 20:30 | https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88569988299
What We’ll Explore
Many philosophers of the ancient world — notably, though not exclusively, among the Stoics — took a rather dim view of emotions, or “the passions,” preferring to cultivate lives of deliberate, active choice, rather than being passively buffeted about by feelings and promptings of the external world.
This often leads to one of two reactions on the part of modern readers. On the one hand, there’s the caricature of the Silicon Valley tech bros, who think that an ancient Roman Emperor gave them permission not to care about the well-being of others. Marcus Aurelius and his fellow Stoics said nothing of the kind, but nevertheless, this gives rise to the second reaction: those who identify very closely with their emotions, and fear that an ethic of freedom from the passions would be dull, lackluster, or less than human.

In this evening’s Zoom program, we’ll try to carve out a middle ground between these two reactions, and recover something closer to what the classical Greek philosophers were aiming at: an approach in which gaining control of the passions, rather than being enslaved by them, allows us to act more effectively and responsibly for the well-being of ourselves, our loved ones, and world around us. We’ll consider place of duty and habit in forming our character, and the need for agency in responding appropriately to the challenges of human life. We’ll try to understand exactly where the ancient thinkers would see both modern reactions as making an error, and reflect together on what we can learn from their third perspective.

WHEN & WHEREWednesday, March 25th6pm-8:30pm (MST)via Zoom ZOOM INFOYou will receive the Zoom info with your RSVPCOSTFree (Donations appreciated)

About Our Discussion Facilitator

David Nowakowski is a community philosopher and educator whose professional work is dedicated to helping people of all ages and backgrounds access, understand, and apply the traditions of ancient philosophy to their own lives. David began studying ancient philosophies and classical languages in 2001 and has continued ever since.

Read more about David…
A scholar of the philosophical traditions of the ancient Mediterranean (Greece, Rome, and North Africa) and of the Indian subcontinent, reading Sanskrit, Latin, and classical Greek, he earned his Ph.D. in philosophy from Princeton University in 2014. His work has appeared in a variety of scholarly journals, including Philosophy East & West, Asian Philosophy, and the Journal of Indian Philosophy, as well as in presentations to academic audiences at Harvard, Columbia University, the University of Toronto, Yale-NUS College in Singapore, and elsewhere. After half a decade teaching at liberal arts colleges in the northeast, David chose to leave the academy in order to focus his energies on the transformative value of these ancient philosophical and spiritual traditions in his own life and practice, and on building new systems of education and community learning that will make this rich heritage alive and available to others. A hermit by nature and by committed choice, he balances contemplative solitude with his active work in teaching, counseling, and the healing arts. David can be reached at david@merlinccc.org or via his personal website.

Fill out my LGL Form!

Make a Donation Here!

Thank you to Our Community Partners

Philosophy On Broadway 2026
2026-04-20 16:00 - 22:00 | On Broadway, 106 E. Broadway St., Helena, Montana, 59601, United States
A fun Night w/ Friends

Live music, good food & wine, good convo & company…sounds like a community symposium to us! And what a fun way to celebrate and support philosophical thinking in Helena?! Please join us for our fundraiser eve at On Broadway. Live music by local legend Dan Henry, a silent auction & a touch of theater. Head to On Broadway. Enjoy some apps, a meal & some drinks…and On Broadway will donate 50% of sales from your night of merriment to our organization! How cool is that?!

Make a Night out of it!Treat yourself to appetizers & dinnerSip on some fantastic bevies!Listen to live music by Dan HenryEnjoy great conversation with friendsHave fun & support a great cause!On BroadwayMonday, April 20th (4pm-10pm)50% of food & beverage sales donated to MerlinPlease join us in celebrating community!Marisa Diaz-Waian, Founder & Director of Merlin

Live Music in the Lounge with Dan Henry

Helena is home to some amazing musicians. This year we’ll be featuring local legend Dan Henry. Born in the Mountains of Montana, Dan Henry is a multi-instrumentalist performing year-round as a One-Man Band. With a combination of rhythmic guitar playing, bluesy harmonica, thumping stomp box and soulful vocals, Mr. Henry bounces from genre to genre playing whichever style suits his musical curiosity.

Silent Auction

Last year we had a great spread of items for our silent auction. And 2025 will be even better! Here’s how it works. We’ll have a table with prizes set up next to the band. Bid on what moves you. Win yourself some sweet auction prizes (to keep or give to others as gifts!). It’s that simple. And a fun way to show some extra love for Merlin.

Door Prizes

It wouldn’t be a symposium without togas! (We’ll be wearing them. You don’t have to!). HOWEVER, for all of you who want to join the fun…door prizes will be given to every person who shows up in a toga (or something toga-like) to dine!!

Why Give to Merlin?
Imagine a world where thoughtful dialogue & community co-exist. Where differing perspectives break bread. Where understanding, truth, and wisdom is a goal. Imagine you live in that world, that city, that neighborhood, that community.
Be part of that vision. Invest in that community. Support philosophy.
All donations made and winning bids on our silent auction, as well as 50% of your food and beverages during our Philosophy on Broadway fundraiser night, will go toward our Spring & Summer philosophy in the community programming, critical, creative thinking, the exchange of ideas, and the application of philosophy to everyday living. Our programs are free to the community and 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.

How to giveCOME TO ON BROADWAY ON MONDAY, APRIL 20TH4pm-10pm. Enjoy some apps, a meal & some bevies. Bid on silent auction items. Listen to live music by Dan Henry. Enjoy great food & great people. Have fun! On Broadway will be donating 50% of food and beverage sales to Merlin!DONATE ON-LINEMake a tax-deductible donation!Become a sustaining donor!GIVE BY CHECKYour tax-deductible donation can be made out to ‘Merlin CCC’. Please write ‘On Broadway Night 2026’ in the memo line and mail to 119 Reeder’s Alley, Helena MT 59601 or bring it with you to On Broadway on April 20th!See you at On Broadway for the festivities!Marisa Diaz-Waian, Founder & Director of Merlin

Greater Helena Gives 2026
2026-05-06 20:00 - 2026-05-07 20:00
WHAT IS GREATER HELENA GIVES?
Hosted by the Helena Area Community Foundation, Greater Helena Gives is a 24-hour online fundraiser that raises money for non-profits across Helena. We love participating in this event and have set this year’s fundraising goal at $4,000, which will be put toward for our Summer & Fall programming.
When: Wednesday, May 6th – Thursday, May 7th (8pm-8pm)
How to give: Yes, I want to support critical, creative thinking in our community by making a donation to Merlin here!
Give by check: Make out to ‘Merlin CCC’, write ‘Greater Helena Gives’ in the memo line, and mail to 119 Reeder’s Alley, Helena MT 59601

WHY GIVE TO MERLIN?
Imagine a world where thoughtful dialogue & community co-exist. Where differing perspectives break bread. Where understanding, truth, and wisdom is a goal. Imagine you live in that world, that city, that neighborhood, that community.
Be part of that vision. Invest in that community. Support philosophy.
A lot goes into putting on programs in the community. In addition to the public-facing side of things, there is a lot of behind-the-scenes work that has to get done in order for a program to take flight. That’s where you come in! Your contributions on Greater Helena Gives will help to support our Summer & Fall philosophy in the community programming, critical, creative thinking, the exchange of ideas, and the application of philosophy to everyday living. Our programs are free to the community and 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.
WHY PHILOSOPHY IS IMPORTANT & wHAT YOU’RE HELPING TO SUPPORT

Philosophy is the backbone of civil discourse & the heartbeat of a critical, creative & thinking community.

By supporting our organization, you are contributing to the well-being & enrichment of Helena by providing opportunities for community members to strengthen their analytic & creative thinking skills, cultivate robust strategies for thinking about and navigating the complexities & nuances of life, foster empathy & compassion, nurture and encourage wonder & curiosity, and build community inspired by an appreciation for and love of place.

Building Community through Laughter: A Public Philosophy Project
2026-06-07 18:30 - 21:00 | The Ming Opera House (Shriner’s Temple), 15 N. Jackson Street, Helena, Montana, 59601, United States
About the Program

Featuring a live performance and post-show talk-back with professional comedian & philosopher Rodney Norman, our “Building Community through Laughter” program explores comedy and the good life.

In addition to doing the good work of helping people think & laugh, Rodney is also a motivational speaker, actor, writer, photographer, and all-around hilarious human & bringer of joy and good vibes.

Laughter without a tinge of philosophy is but a sneeze of humor. Genuine humor is replete with wisdom. mark twain, quoted in mark twain and i

What to AnticipateKnown for his hilariously unassuming and often dead-pan style of humor, Rodney’s humor blends clean, family-friendly comedy with deep thoughts, and is rife with philosophical wisdom.In both the performance and conversation, and through Rodney’s delightfully disarming vulnerability and storytelling ability, audience members will be invited to consider themes like love, courage, freedom, justice, community, and more through the lens of comedy.In the process, we’ll learn about some of the philosophical inspirations behind Rodney’s work, creative process & style, the source of his joy, and his view on the relationship between comedy and the good life, and why the arts & humanities matter.

Photo by Mark Daynes on Unsplash

Want to See more?Visit our project page for more details, watch some stand-up videos of Rodney, and learn more about this fun program, our comedian, and facilitators. Click here to be whisked away to our Building Community through Laughter project page!

Photo by Kevin Snow on Unsplash

Photo by Lydia Williams on Unsplash

Photo by Mauricio Manzato on Unsplash

Art as Transformation: A Public Philosophy Project
2026-10-11 17:30 - 21:00 | The Ming Opera House (Shriner’s Temple), 15 N. Jackson Street, Helena, Montana, 59601, United States
About the Program

Featuring live music, visual and performance art, storytelling, dialogue, and more, our “Art as Transformation” program is an innovative public philosophy project that explores the role of art in our everyday lives and its relationship to virtue and human flourishing. Inspired by the ancient Greek concept of eudaimonia, the program is structured around key philosophical inquiries and ideas that invite people to experience the transformative power of art and reflect on why and how it contributes to good living.

What to ExpectInteractive, multi-modal, and engaging, the project features local musicians performing an er and genre-spanning “mash-up” of live music, accompanied by by visual imagery and performance art enlivening the stage. All the while, a humanities scholar guides the audience through a rich tapestry of art, history, story, social commentary, and philosophy. Exploring the relationship between art and human flourishing, pulling out threads along the way to examine together.After the performance, audience members will hear more from our guest scholar-artists through a facilitated conversation and Q & A and close out the night with an invite to mingle and view artwork from local artists as further platforms for thinking about art, virtue, and the good life.Bonus: We also have a fun program planned for the night following this event that is certain to have you in stitches. See Building Community through Laughter: Comedy and the Good Life for more about that!

Photo by Clem Onojeghuo on Unsplash

Want to See more?Visit our project page for more details, to peek at the awesome group of humans and organizations involved in this project & to check out a fun bonus event we have planned for the night following this community gig as a perfect kind of night cap! Click here to be whisked away to our Art as Transformation page!

Photo by Jason Rosewell on Unsplash

Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

Photo by Ron Smith on Unsplash

Giving Tuesday 2026
2026-12-01 00:00 - 23:59
WHAT IS GIVING TUESDAY?
GivingTuesday was created in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good. Since then, it has grown into a year-round global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity.
When: Tuesday, December 1st (Starting @ 12am for 24-Hours)
How to give: Stay tuned…
Give by check: Make out to ‘Merlin CCC’, write ‘GivingTuesday’ in the memo line, and mail to 119 Reeder’s Alley, Helena MT 59601

WHY GIVE TO MERLIN?
Imagine a world where thoughtful dialogue & community co-exist. Where differing perspectives break bread. Where understanding, truth, and wisdom is a goal. Imagine you live in that world, that city, that neighborhood, that community.
Be part of that vision. Invest in that community. Support philosophy.
Your contributions on GivingTuesday will help to support our Winter & Spring philosophy in the community programming, critical, creative thinking, the exchange of ideas, and the application of philosophy to everyday living. Our programs are free to the community and 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.
