“The real cycle you’re working on is a cycle called yourself. The study of the art of motorcycle maintenance is really a miniature study of the art of rationality itself. Working on a motorcycle, working well, caring, is to become part of a process, to achieve an inner peace of mind. The motorcycle is primarily a mental phenomenon.”
According to Robert Pirsig, motorcycle maintenance allows one to use rationality. Although a motorcycle appears to be only a machine, one should be able to think and see beyond the aesthetics of the machine, to the underlying form within the machine. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance is a book that challenges you to reexamine the world, to revisit the ancient Greek thinkers like Plato and Aristotle to gain a better grasp of your reality right now. In examining the past, we can live in the present and find the patterns that have existed perpetually in human history.
“You work to live” (8): I’ve thought about this. My parents surely have reminded me of the importance of stability in picking a career. The Grandpa I interviewed for the SAYA! Board told me, rather rudely, that you can study whatever you want, but you have to be willing to live with the consequences. If you can handle a lower standard of living, then go ahead. I resented his assumption that a major in Philosophy meant a lower standard of living. You work to make money so that you can sustain yourself on a basic level.
Pirsig extrapolates on personalities from the fundamental difference he sees in how one regards cycle maintenance. At the heart of the book is problematic notion of dualism, specifically between classical and romantic modes of thinking. The wrench, which appears on the cover and at the beginning of each chapter, is a symbol of both modes. There is a romantic beauty to the wrench, an aesthetic quality to the appearance of a wrench, but the underlying function and purpose of the wrench is classical. The precision of instruments are needed in order to make the machine work. Ideas are fundamental. The rational intellectual ideas are fundamental to understanding the world (86)
I love this book. It’s what my friend Mohamed would dismiss as a “hippie book” but the ideas are really basic, universal, and timeless. There is more to the book’s philosophy, and I probably should be working out the details of my own ancient Greek philosophy final paper, instead of ruminating on something that is hardly relevant right now.
According to Robert Pirsig, motorcycle maintenance allows one to use rationality. Although a motorcycle appears to be only a machine, one should be able to think and see beyond the aesthetics of the machine, to the underlying form within the machine. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance is a book that challenges you to reexamine the world, to revisit the ancient Greek thinkers like Plato and Aristotle to gain a better grasp of your reality right now. In examining the past, we can live in the present and find the patterns that have existed perpetually in human history.
“You work to live” (8): I’ve thought about this. My parents surely have reminded me of the importance of stability in picking a career. The Grandpa I interviewed for the SAYA! Board told me, rather rudely, that you can study whatever you want, but you have to be willing to live with the consequences. If you can handle a lower standard of living, then go ahead. I resented his assumption that a major in Philosophy meant a lower standard of living. You work to make money so that you can sustain yourself on a basic level.
Pirsig extrapolates on personalities from the fundamental difference he sees in how one regards cycle maintenance. At the heart of the book is problematic notion of dualism, specifically between classical and romantic modes of thinking. The wrench, which appears on the cover and at the beginning of each chapter, is a symbol of both modes. There is a romantic beauty to the wrench, an aesthetic quality to the appearance of a wrench, but the underlying function and purpose of the wrench is classical. The precision of instruments are needed in order to make the machine work. Ideas are fundamental. The rational intellectual ideas are fundamental to understanding the world (86)
I love this book. It’s what my friend Mohamed would dismiss as a “hippie book” but the ideas are really basic, universal, and timeless. There is more to the book’s philosophy, and I probably should be working out the details of my own ancient Greek philosophy final paper, instead of ruminating on something that is hardly relevant right now.
hippie book, hehe. InshaAllah, I'll get to read it at some point, so I may fruitfully comment on the lack of beauty in a wrench (although it is a wonderfully useful tool, I don't find it particularly romantic).
ReplyDeleteHowever, motorcycles are cool. I learned the basics in India; who knows maybe when I have some money in my pocket I'll buy one.
Oh, and philosophy majors don't make much money (unless they go to law school); but all of the greatest thinkers in the past were poor, so don't fret (i tell my brother, a budding journalist/professor, this, and he tells me: good thing you sold out, this way you can support me while i go off and think).
Also, I don't consider making a million dollars a year that you don't have time to spend, with a McMansion that you only sleep and eat breakfast in, and a poster family that you see two minutes a day is a higher standard of living then let's say, teaching high school kids, making 50k, and spending quality time with family.
The grandfather just wanted you to go to med school, like all other south asian kids. (I do think the medical profession provides the best of both worlds, that is, if you're willing to sacrifice about fifteen years (4 yrs med + 3 yrs resid + 2 yrs. avg specialty + 6-8 yrs developing practice) before it gets easy.)
you learned motorcycle maintenence in india?
ReplyDeletedo tell me about it (when exams are done),
not basics of maintenance, =). basics of riding.
ReplyDeleteRIDING a motorcycle, oh my. a big part of pirsig is the knowing how to fix your machine, and not just riding it. something more than the aesthetic art of riding to the functional aspect of mechanics..
ReplyDeletei really cannot entertain the thought of bearded muslim man with kufi riding a harley
but thanks
you and your stereotypes ;) (i wish i had a motorcycle to ride, but for now i'll go back to sitting with my books like muslim bearded men who are in the midst of law school finals ought to be doing).
ReplyDelete