Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance and Quality by...

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance And Quality Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance as written by Robert Pirsig, focuses on a number of philosophical life values. These values include quality, identity, duality, and Zen. This paper will focus mainly on the subject of quality and the effect dwelling on its definition had on Pirsig. Pirsig has put an incredible amount of thought into defining Quality. Starting just about at the start of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, the subject of Quality is introduced. Pirsig explains that this journey is considered to be a Chautauqua of sorts, focused on a number of philosophical ideas, including the question, â€Å"What is good†? Pirsig’s meditative and calm view on his surroundings can be attributed to his focus on that very question, and perhaps because his behavior is considered strange, society could do with some thought on the question. Pirsig explores the other philosophical life values in the next few chapters, especially focusing on the diffe rence between Classical and Romantic views. Quality is not mentioned again until Chapter 15, where Pirsig and Chris revisit the college where Pirsig’s former self, Phaedrus, taught. While at the college, Pirsig comes across his old office, and is overcome with memories of his breakthroughs in philosophical thought. One of these memories is of a woman named Sarah, who stopped by his office to ask if he had begun teaching the idea of Quality to his students. This is anShow MoreRelatedQuality Control: Zen and The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig1035 Words   |  5 Pagesword is Quality. Some of the misuse lies in the basic distinction between quality and Quality with a capital ‘Q’, which can be cleared up quite succinctly. Little ‘q’ quality is attached to an object. 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