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From: arnold@csu-cs.UUCP (Ed Arnold)
Newsgroups: net.philosophy
Subject: Re: Pirsig
Message-ID: <2548@csu-cs.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 30-Apr-84 08:02:10 EDT
Article-I.D.: csu-cs.2548
Posted: Mon Apr 30 08:02:10 1984
Date-Received: Thu, 3-May-84 08:26:48 EDT
Organization: Colo. St Univ, C.S. Dpt.
Lines: 24

I also enjoy Pirsig's work.

As far as I know, his work isn't taken too seriously in philosophical
circles. I spoke with my favorite Philosophy guru, who by the way is a
University of Chicago alumni, about Zen and the Art. He looked at me and
laughed. He said, "Being the best, whether it be philosopher, motorcycle
mechanic, father, teacher or writer, this is the focus of the book. Yet in
each of these areas he bites off more than he can chew. He tries to eclipse
all of philosophy by using the tools of many of the disciplines he
abandons. On a philosophical level this is a disaster, on a rhetorical level
it's ok, but on a reading level it's really fun!" He seemed to think that
Pirsig and Tom Wolfe would get along fine.

As far as other work, yes you can find plenty, it's called Eastern
Philosophy. The triad that Pirsig sets up is similar to views held in
Taoism, Zenism and Hinduism (let us not forget the larger realm of
Buddism). Most of the work will have to be metaphysical in nature since it
is obvious that Pirsig holds very western views in ethics and aesthetics.
Good titles include, GEB, The Mind's I, The Tao of Physics and The Tao 
is Silent.

       Enjoy,
       Ed Arnold   {hplabs,hpfcla,unmvax,hao,denelcor} (csu-cs!arnold)
		   Colorado State University    Ft. Collins,  Colorado