Philosophy Workshop: Grief as Self-Discovery

In this workshop designed and led by Merlin Student Scholar Fellow Julianna Breit, we offered a framework for acknowledging and understanding grief’s role in our lives through the lens of philosophy. Access resources & photos here.

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Merlin Student Scholar Fellow: “If Socrates Were a Psychiatrist…”

Inspired by her interest in philosophy & psychiatry, Merlin Student Scholar Fellow Julianna Breit explores some of their similarities & differences and how practitioners in both are obsessed with “The Good Life.” Read her 2021 research & writing work here!

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Congratulations Julianna Breit: 2021-2022 Merlin Student Scholar Fellow

We are thrilled to announce our 2021-2022 Merlin Student Scholar Fellow, Julianna Breit. Julianna is our first undergraduate fellow. A junior at Carroll College, Julianna is double-majoring in Biochemistry and Philosophy with minors in Ethics and Value Studies, Neuroscience, and Chemistry. Her fellowship will involve a combination of research, writing, and philosophy in the community activities. Learn more about her & some of the projects she’ll be working on here!

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Philosophy Workshop: Animism (May 2020)

Many of us take for granted a clear divide between the animate and inanimate. For instance: I am alive, but the chair I sit in is not. My dog is probably alive, as is the oak tree just outside my window. I am somewhat less certain about grass. Or viruses. What does this distinction between the living and nonliving mean to us? Why do we care so deeply about finding a firm line between the two? What might we discover about our world, our own assumptions, and our own ethical action if we are willing to question these categories? Many cultures and peoples throughout the world have never bothered to make such clean distinctions, and even in our contemporary western culture, a movement of philosophers has been challenging this divide from within. In this ZOOM workshop led by philosophers Henry Kramer & David Nowakowski, we explored the philosophy of animism – an orientation toward the world where everything is encountered as meaningfully alive. Access the video and other resources here!

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Philosophy Workshop: Wonder, Nature & Play (March 2020)

Have you ever wondered about wonder? What exactly is the experience of wondering? Why do we feel it? When do we feel it? Why might it be valuable? And, most pressingly: how can wonder be cultivated to assist us in dealing with modern problems, both on a large scale and in our individual, personal lives? In this 2½-hour workshop led by 2019-2020 Student Scholar Fellow Henry Kramer we investigated the connections between wonder, nature, imagination, and play through lecture, discussion, and exercises. Access resources and photos here!

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January 2020 Philosophy Think & Drink (Missoula)

We had a great time at our January Think & Drink! Our group talked about symbols and parasites. You, you heard right! Check out some of the questions and ideas that came up in the process!

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December 2019 Philosophy Think & Drink (Missoula)

We had a great time at our December Think & Drink! Our group explored the good ol’ is-ought conundrum. Check out some of the questions and ideas that came up in the process here!

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Merlin Community Scholar Fellow Makes 4 Montana Papers with His Article on Elk Shoulder Seasons

Congratulations to 2019 Merlin Community Scholar Fellow, Thomas Baumeister, for making the paper once again with his research and writing on the practical and moral challenges associated with elk shoulder seasons.  His article was picked up by four papers across Montana: Helena Independent Record,  Bozeman Daily Chronicle, the Missoulian, and Butte Standard.

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