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Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry Into Values
by Robert M. Pirsig
by Robert M. Pirsig
After years of people saying, "Oh, you're a philosophy major? Have you heard of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance? You should read it!" I finally broke down and bought a copy. I am usually wary of books that seem to hold promises of sweetness and light and spiritual awakening, in this age of The Purpose-Driven Life and Silver Ravenwolf.
My thoughts on the book, even months after reading it, are still mixed. Artistically, I do think it's a polished and respectable piece of literature. It's well-written and compelling. But my philosophy major side is hesitant about it. I don't know much about Zen Buddhism, so I can't speak for how Pirsig treated that aspect, but the rundowns on philosophy made me anxious in the way that "Philosophy for Dummies" makes me anxious: you have to assume that the author's interpretation is one that is valid. And sometimes there was enough value judgment language that it felt like the text was "conveniently" interpreting the philosopher at hand, as opposed to fairly.
It's a good book, and I recommend it, but I also recommend reading more about the philosophies Pirsig touches on, eg Kant, Hume, Aristotle, Socrates, Plato, etc. Anything that turns people on to philosophy can't be all bad, after all.
My thoughts on the book, even months after reading it, are still mixed. Artistically, I do think it's a polished and respectable piece of literature. It's well-written and compelling. But my philosophy major side is hesitant about it. I don't know much about Zen Buddhism, so I can't speak for how Pirsig treated that aspect, but the rundowns on philosophy made me anxious in the way that "Philosophy for Dummies" makes me anxious: you have to assume that the author's interpretation is one that is valid. And sometimes there was enough value judgment language that it felt like the text was "conveniently" interpreting the philosopher at hand, as opposed to fairly.
It's a good book, and I recommend it, but I also recommend reading more about the philosophies Pirsig touches on, eg Kant, Hume, Aristotle, Socrates, Plato, etc. Anything that turns people on to philosophy can't be all bad, after all.
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You said "you have to assume that the author's interpretation is one that is valid." But one of the points he makes is that essays (such as his book) are never anything but one person talking from their point of view. So really, he's relativist, right? He's not intending to put forth a definitive theory, he's just writing from his perspective. I think he uses his essay to make a point about his viewpoint of essays.
Relativism!Yes, there is that aspect to it, but when you're presenting someone else's point of view (at least in an instructional, educational context), you need to bear in mind what they were intending to say and to portray that as accurately as possible.
In fiction, or even an essay, fairly liberal interpretations of, say, Aristotle would be okay. I just think that lots of people, after reading this, now think they've learned something about philosophy, which isn't necessarily the case. That's what makes me nervous about the book.
Guess I was just one of those people. But that book is probably part of what inspired me to buy a secondhand copy of a "First Philosophy" reader and start into Plato, Kafka, and more.
This is a great review. I agree with it about 100%. You put it much more eloquently than I could have.
Great review! As a high school senior who hasn't read any philosophy it definitely sparked my interest to take a philosophy class and read some of the original texts. I did want to believe that his take was completely accurate but I recognize it's just a summary of his ideas about philosophy.
Kathryn wrote: "Hi Koba,Can you help me? I'm trying to find a passage that I remember from Z.A.M.M. but I read it ages ago & have no idea where in the book to look.
Do you remember the part where he was describi..."
I just read and re read this part because i have struggled like the student struggles with not being able to say anything.Its the last paragraph on page 239
A brilliant review, I agree with your analysis of Pirsig's philosophy completely. For years before I started reading philosophy, people would tell me that ZAMM was an excellent overview of western philosophy. No, it's not. As I father, I admire the narrative about the father/son relationship, but Pirsig's understanding of philosophy is dismal.
Can you help me? I'm trying to find a passage that I remember from Z.A.M.M. but I read it ages ago & have no idea where in the book to look.
Do you remember the part where he was describing a student of his who said she couldn't think of what to write her paper on? He told her to go look at the front of a building and start by writing about one of the bricks, then go from there. She came back with something like 20 pages about one brick.
Does this sound at all familiar?
I'd be grateful for your help! thanks, Kat