Philosophy Symposium: “Vulnerable Humanity, Predictable Machines” (Part 2)

Co-Directed/Hosted by Marisa Diaz-Waian, M.A. (Founder & Executive Director, Merlin CCC),  Tim Holmes, M.F.A. (Local & Internationally-Renowned Artist), and Pastor Russ Danaher (Pastor and ADA Coordinator, Montana Department of Corrections) this interactive Q & A-style symposium is part 2 (or a 3-part series) on the human-technology relationship and features a…

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DOJO TWO (WEEK 6r): “The Good Life,” Plato’s Symposium (Part 1)

This portion of week 6 we will begin our exploration of “The Good Life” and dive into Plato’s Symposium (part 1). NOTE: This week is split between two dojos — Dojo One & Dojo Two. The ‘r’ represents the Thursday of week 6.

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Lessons on Empathy & Compassion from the Classroom

Empathy and compassion are some of the greatest life lessons we can ever hope to learn. While expanding our minds is (and should be) a goal of our educational systems, lessons that help to expand our hearts are often (sadly) less of a focus. In this award-winning documentary, Mr. Toshiro…

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Empathy v. Sympathy

Merlin | Empathy v. Sympathy

On a recent ‘Little Philosopher’s Walk’, one of our fun ‘Merlin Meanderings’ that we held here at Merlin Nature Preserve, we discussed & explored the importance and value of imagination.  In the course of our conversation, the work of Dr. Brené Brown, Research Professor at the University of Houston Graduate…

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Practical Guidelines for Empathy

Think empathy is overrated?  Think again!  Empathy is crucial to our and others’ well-being in countless ways.  In this article, Dr. Elliot D. Cohen, one of the principal founders of philosophical counseling in the United States & Executive Director of the National Philosophical Counseling Association, helps to clarify the nature…

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Does Kindness Matter?

Merlin MCC | Does Kindness Matter?

Does kindness matter?  Can it really that make much of a difference in your life?  What about the lives of others?  What does it even mean to be kind?  His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet, for example, speaks of kindness & compassion in conjunction with happiness; he also…

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