October 2019 Philosophy Think & Drink (Missoula)

Our October Think & Drink was great fun! We started with play, moved to responsibilities & obligations, and then onto a discussion about morality. Check out details here!

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September 2019 Philosophy Think & Drink (Missoula)

Our September Think & Drink was a lively one! Consisting of philosophy students and alum from from U of M, UMT, and community members, our group started about by a number of questions…settling on “What are holidays?  What does it do for us to break up the year/time with them?”…and eventually moving into a a discussion about a series of other questions. Check out what we explored & photos here!

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August 2019 Philosophy Think & Drink (Missoula)

This month’s Think & Drink — facilitated by 2019 Merlin Student Scholar Fellow, Henry Kramer — was chock-full of inquiry, tasty grog, and great discussion. Check out what sorts of things we explored & access resources here!

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June 2019 Philosophy Think & Drink (Missoula)

June’s Think & Drink sparked great conversation about justice, resistance, civil disobedience, violence & oppression. Access resources here!

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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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Congratulations Henry Kramer: 2019 Merlin Student Scholar Fellow

We are thrilled to announce our 2019 Merlin Student Scholar Fellow, Henry Kramer.  A graduate student at the University of Montana, Missoula, Henry is currently working toward two Master’s Degrees — one in Environmental Philosophy, and the other in Literature. As part of his fellowship work with Merlin, Henry will be developing, conducting and co-leading several philosophy in the community projects related to the human-nature relationship, environmental ethics, ecology, eco-phenomenology, and the phenomenology of imagination and story.

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Merlin Community Scholar Fellow Makes the Paper with His Elk Project

Congratulations to 2019 Merlin Community Scholar Fellow, Thomas Baumeister, for making the paper with his research and writing project on elk.  Prompted by a concern for the state of hunting and conservation and ethical questions regarding the measure of the hunt, fairness, and respect, Thomas offers valuable & important food for thought — for hunters and non-hunters alike.  The article is a perfect example of how philosophy reaches beyond the classroom and why asking philosophical questions matter to our everyday lives (and the lives of others), practices, and policies. The piece went live on the Merlin website on Sunday. January 13th, was submitted for consideration as an op-ed to the Helena Independent Record on Monday, Jan. 14th, and appeared as a featured “guest view” article on-line and in print on Thursday, Jan. 17th.

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February 2018 Philosophy Drive-In

Our February Philosophy Drive-In was wonderful!  Our  group of philosophy & movie-lovers stayed warm in our “night under the stars without the cars” bungalow, enjoyed tasty treats, good conversation, and the 2001 drama Thirteen Conversations About One Thing.  An existentially moving (and very Kierkegaardian in nature) film, this film looks…

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