Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

To wait Zen and the Art of Motorcycle (Original Title: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance) is a work of the U.S. author Robert M. Pirsig in 1974 It is a mixture of novel, autobiography, and philosophical treatise. .

The work

As a novel, it tells a motorcycle trip through the northwestern United States. As an autobiography, it contains memories of the author to himself and to his earlier thinking. As philosophy is the work in a confrontation with the increasingly technological (western) lifestyle of the 1950s and 1960s. The conflict can be understood in part as epistemologically, because it focuses on the acting dealing with the technology and the consequences thereof.

The philosophical considerations are inserted as lessons in the overall story of the motorcycle trip. Pirsig refers to the units as " Chautauqua " (wandering summer school). The work was after its publication in 1974 popular because it covers themes are compatible with the interests of the counterculture of the 1960s and early 1970s, particularly as regards the criticism of the kind of education and life goals of the conservative middle classes of the United States of the 1950s.

The title itself is an allusion to Victor Eugen Herrigel's book Zen in the Art of Archery by 1948.

Concept of quality

The focus of the philosophy that develops to wait in Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Pirsig, the term is "quality". This term can be interpreted both epistemologically and metaphysically. "Quality" is preceded by a splitting of perception, is evident from the subjective and the objective, intellectual and physical. The concept of quality is thus a response to dualistic thinking.

A special feature of the " quality" is dynamic. This is in contrast to the perception of things in the world that appear to be static. Pirsig defines "quality" in this respect as an event. As such, " quality" is never completely detectable. Thus, " quality " is not observed as a distinct object of investigation in the scientific sense. Pirsig often emphasized that "quality" not " define " leave. In his epistemological considerations Pirsig starts from a pre -intellectual awareness, which refers to "quality" and which he calls " quality awareness ". The " quality awareness " does not match the everyday understanding of consciousness or intellect as capturing static things in the world or as a collection of fixed concepts of the understanding. Everything intellectually ( through the mind ) Captured and Accrued arrears for Pirsig over the quality awareness. These deferred action relates to the separation of the world into subjects and objects, in recognized objects and recognizing people. Human action and speaking for Pirsig based on finding analogies to past experiences in the pre-conscious, pre- intellectual awareness of quality.

For clarity and illustration of the concept of quality Pirsig uses the example of a freight train. In this example, two perspectives can be distinguished: ( 1) the view on the train, in which he appears as a static entity from locomotive and individual cars, as in a photograph; ( 2) the view of the train in which this appears to be a dynamic structure that drives and thereby travels route. There are two ways to look at the same thing. In the first approach of the train in the form of individual parts is treated. Pirsig calls the result of this approach, " classical knowledge" or " classic quality ". In the second approach the train in motion is considered, while Pirsig just focused on the foremost part, which he referred to as " leading edge of the locomotive ." The results of this second approach is called Pirsig " romantic knowledge" or " romantic quality ".

Using the second approach Pirsig clarifies what he means by "quality". He referred to the track on which the train is traveling, as " quality " tracks. The perspective is shifted to the front side of the train and on the motion. From this perspective, the track and its subsequent course is not ( or very little ) cost. Unlike in the first ( "classical" ) approach, in which a train travels on a fixed track, the track of the second ( "romantic" ) view is not predetermined. For the observer at the leading edge of the train, the track along with the course occurs at the moment of driving. Dispositions of perception in a train with individual cars, which follows a track course, arise with respect to this view later. For this purpose, the observer must be removed from the front of the train.

Pirsig calls this train also " Wissenszug ". In an epistemological interpretation of the example of the train illustrates the process of knowing or experiencing. The cognitive process is event- only and takes place at the " leading edge of the time " instead. At the moment of knowing there are still no divisions and boundaries. Classifications are necessary, but they arise only later. They are in the " Wissenszug " symbolized by the single carriages, which are arranged behind the engine. The cognitive process as described precedes all dualisms.

Observers and problem- relatedness of the work

The observer is involved in Pirsig in philosophical thought. This is shown by his numerous notes to the concept of quality. But Pirsig does not leave it. He describes the impact of the two approaches in daily contact with the art. He tells them in the course of the entire work on a concrete example, not unusual problem - the maintenance of his motorcycle while the motorcycle trip. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance is thus an example of philosophical thinking, which is observer - and application-oriented and aimed at life at the present time.

Using the example of motorcycle maintenance Pirsig shows in detail that the traditional scientific approach that Pirsig referred to as the " classic " for problem solving is indeed necessary but is not sufficient. Only a re-evaluation of the experienced as problematic situation allows problem solving, and for the dynamic, qualitative approach is necessary, the designated Pirsig as " romantic ". As an example of such a re-evaluation under the dynamic approach Pirsig indicates the problem of a loose handlebar. It lacks a shim. This is a problem that occurs in the classical, static view. In addition to the motorcycle is a discarded beer can. This affects the dynamic view: The beer can be perceived new and adaptive, for example, as a sheet for a new shim. This revaluation makes a problem solving possible. - Another example of problem solving by the revaluation of the situation, explaining Pirsig closer, the problem of a fixed screw.

The name of Zen in the title of the work Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance is symbolic of the opinion that a particular approach to problem solving in the field of technology may lead. In this approach, the observer itself has not so far separated from the observed world that he sees only static, unchanging things going on that work the stated end of the observer accordingly or do not work. The observer in this approach is still connected so far with the things that he can perceive new things, and that he in this manner things - can dynamically adjust the problems occurring - and his world.

Criticism of the Greek classics

The philosophy in the work of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance is associated with a significant critique of the dualistic philosophies of the Greek classics (especially Plato and Aristotle even more ). Through the acquisition of these classical theories " unspeakable damage inflicted in the world " was, according to Pirsig. Pirsig criticized in particular the elimination of a reason ( or rationality ) of things and also of the Platonic ideas and sets as an alternative his view, however, in an acting person ( an observer ) is connected at the moment of his actions with the products of his actions. As the focal point of this alternative concept of quality can be considered. In connection with the criticism of the Greek classics at the same time there is a criticism of a university education system in which more emphasis is placed on memorization of the classics and the rendering of classifications and lists than on problem solving. In this review the personal experience goes a Pirsigs as a teacher in Bozeman (Montana). In this regard, calls Pirsig the " Great Books " program, with its representatives he examined at the University of Chicago.

Expenditure

  • Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values. William Morrow, 1974, ISBN 0-688-00230-7
  • Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. An experiment about values. From the American Rudolf Hermstein. S. Fischer, Frankfurt 1976, ISBN 3-10-061901-3; Fischer -Taschenbuch -Verlag, Frankfurt 1978, ISBN 3-596-22020-3 Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. An experiment about values. With an afterword by the author: Ten years after publication of the first edition. Fischer -Taschenbuch -Verlag, Frankfurt 2005, ISBN 3-596-50855- X
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