Philosophy Walk

Please join us for this philosophy as a way of life-inspired walk on Saturday, September 14th from 10am-1pm where we’ll be exploring “virtue & ethics: from ecology to ethics.”  Special guest speaker/philosopher-on-trail — David Nowakowski, PhD. To learn more & sign-up for our free meandering, visit our philosophy walks page.

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Philosophy Walk

Please join us for this philosophy as a way of life-inspired walk on Sunday, July 14th from 9am-12pm where we’ll be exploring ethics, “the life of virtue” and hope.  Meeting/Hike Location: Dump Gulch/McKelvey Trailhead (just past the Lime Kilns on Grizzly Gulch Drive). Special guest scholar/philosopher-on-trail — David Nowakowski. This…

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Ancient Greek Insights for Today’s America: A Philosophical Conversation

Sponsored by the Carroll College Philosophy Department and Merlin CCC, this evening program will be an informal conversation about greek philosophical insights and how they relate to can help us navigate our everyday lived experiences. Guest participants will be provided with set questions/topics, not as a debate, but rather as an illuminating conversation. Barry Ferst (Professor of Philosophy, Carroll College) will be serving as the moderator and will aide in directing discussion.

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Science on Tap: Three Thought Experiments that Revolutionized Science

Most people can identify the ideas that have revolutionized science as we know it.  But what about the thought experiments behind those ideas?  The ideas behind the ideas that gave rise to our vision of the world today? This free interactive & theatrical presentation was held on January 31st at ExplorationWorks as part of their Science on Tap project and explored three thought experiments that revolutionized science. Guest speakers Marisa Diaz-Waian (who played the role of the student), Martin Richard (the mad scientist) & Michael Chapman (the philosopher) examined the role of imagination and wonder in scientific and philosophical thinking and invited audience members to share in the fun!  

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Merlin Philosophy Walk on HCTV: Exploring Big Ideas Under the Big Sky

Produced by Stephen Maly and Jeanie Warden of Helena Civic Television, this video offers a snapshot of what you might experience on one our philosophy walks. Featuring guest speakers Ed Glowienka and Shane Doyle, this walk took place on Sunday, September 9th 2018 on Merlin Nature Preserve and Little Falcon Farm, and was part of our 3-part series on the environment, ethics & stewardship.

Thank you to the Helena Civic Television crew for joining us on our outing, capturing such beautiful footage, and adding such heart-warming commentary !  

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Merlin Community Scholar Fellow in the Paper with His Article on Wolf Conservation

Congratulations to 2019 Merlin Community Scholar Fellow, Thomas Baumeister, for making the paper with his research and writing project on the democracy of wolf conservation. Prompted by bills currently being proposed in Montana that will decide the fate of wolves for years to come and the democratic process of conservation, Thomas asks us to consider the role of adaptive management and pragmatism (over blind ideology) and engaged citizenry(so that the ends do not justify the means) in wolf conservation. The article went live on the Merlin website on Friday, February 8th, was submitted for consideration as an op-ed to the Helena Independent Record on the same day, and appeared as a featured “guest view” article on-line and in print on Wednesday, February 13th.  

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Philosophy Walk

Please join us for our philosophy walk on Saturday, November 2nd from 10am-1pm.  Topic:  Nature & the Humanities.  Special guest speakers/philosophers-on-trail — Ed Glowienka (Associate Professor of Philosophy, Carroll College) & Henry Kramer (2019 Merlin Student Fellow, University of Montana Missoula). Some of the things we’ll be exploring along the…

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Hayride-Philosophy Walk

Please join us for a special hayride-philosophy walk on Sunday, October 13th from 10am-1pm where we’ll be exploring the role of story and imagination across cultures & how these can help us reconnect with nature.  Special guest speakers/philosophers-on-trail — Shane M. Doyle (Independent Educational & Cultural Consultant, Native Nexus Consulting) &…

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