Philosophy Symposium: Vulnerable Humanity, Predictable Machines

“Vulnerable Humanity, Predictable Machines” is an evening symposium that looks at the less emphasized properties of the human spirit in relation to technology and technological advances. Co-Directed/Hosted by Marisa Diaz-Waian, M.A. (Founder & Executive Director, Merlin CCC), Tim Holmes, M.F.A. (Local & Internationally-Renowned Artist) & Dr. Barry Ferst, Ph.D. (Professor…

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A Crash Course on ‘What Is Philosophy?’

At our Beat the Heat Philosophy Party in August, one of our presentations explored what philosophy is, what it isn’t, and why we should care.  This fun video from the Crash Course series provides some additional insight about the matter, including a brief history of philosophy (primarily from a western…

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How Philosophy (And Technology) Can Help Us Reconnect With Nature & Why It Matters

How Philosophy (and Technology) Can Help Us Reconnect With Nature & Why It Matters Andrea Houchard & Marisa Diaz-Waian, Public Philosophy Journal (2016) – Under Review. ABSTRACT: The human connection to nature is an important issue in the world today. While it is rarely articulated as matter of public concern,…

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A History of Western Philosophy Chart

This awesome chart from superscholar.org provides an abbreviated, easy to follow, and informative overview of the general flow of thought in Western Philosophy.  Although missing several influential scholars, it does a great job at capturing the nuts-and-bolts of things and is very well thought-out.  We hope you enjoy this visual…

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Thou Shalt Not Commit Logical Fallacies

That’s right, we said it!  And so did the crew at yourlogicalfallacyis!  Thou shalt not commit logical fallacies!  Ok great.  But what’s a logical fallacy?  In a nutshell…logical fallacies are flaws in reasoning and knowing how to detect them in your (and others’) reasoning is crucial for a number of…

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How Philosophy Can Help Us Grieve

Merlin MCC | Grief Image | Scholarly Articles

Navigating the Wake(s) of Loss: How Philosophy Can Help Us Grieve Marisa Diaz-Waian, International Journal of Applied Philosophy 28:1 (2014): 19-48. ABSTRACT: How might approaching loss philosophically help us grieve? What does it mean to approach something philosophically? Why might such an approach be advantageous to studies of grief? In…

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Facts, Opinions & Moral Truths

What does it mean for something to be a fact? What about an opinion?  And how do either (or both) of these relate to morality and value claims or moral truths?  Justin P. McBrayer, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Fort Lewis College, provides a fascinating (albeit troubling) look at how…

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Do Compassion & Happiness Matter?

Merlin MCC | Dalai Lama Smile | Why Compassion & Happiness Matter

Do compassion and happiness matter?  Without hesitation, yes!  But how so?   His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of  Tibet reviews this very topic and provides his unique & insightful perspective on the importance of happiness and compassion to the individual and society at large.  In the process, he discusses:…

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