Robert M Pirsig (6 Sept 1928 – 24 Apr 2017)
Author and creator of
“Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance” (ZMM-1974)
“Lila – an Enquiry into Morals” (Lila-1991)
The Metaphysics of Quality (MoQ – Timeless)
Click Here for Latest Pirsig News
Click for #ZMM50thIntroduction
[Introduction] [Timeline] [News] [More] [Links] [Top] [Blog]
Since 2002, there are a number of pages and blog posts by Ian Glendinning on Psybertron that are related directly or indirectly to the work of Bob Pirsig and his Metaphysics of Quality. (See [More] below). When the Psybertron project started in 2001, there was little indication of the philosophical activist turn it would take, nor that two earlier books I hadn’t yet read would become significant.
The books remain significant, not because Bob’s are the last words on the subject, nor are they necessarily entirely original ideas – after all, ideas evolve. However, Psybertron acknowledges the contribution of Pirsig, ZMM, Lila and MoQ to the thought journey. That journey was first described in my 2005 conference paper and presentation slides (and newly annotated in 2023). In many ways Bob was my “seed crystal” – whatever the specific content of his thought and work, reading his words catalysed the confluence of many confused threads of my own thought.
Of lasting significance, in summary in 2002, were three things:
-
-
- The MoQ as a synthetic view – synthesizing, rather than simply analyzing. The historically recurring dichotomy between things objective, physical & scientific and things subjective, mystical & romantic. We really do “murder to dissect”.
-
- Careful with that knife, Aristotle !
- Careful with that razor, Occam !
-
- The MoQ as a synthetic view – synthesizing, rather than simply analyzing. The historically recurring dichotomy between things objective, physical & scientific and things subjective, mystical & romantic. We really do “murder to dissect”.
-
-
-
- The MoQ as an evolutionary framework – recognizing that synthesis of the physical and the mental, as the evolution of special patterns through dynamic interaction over time.
-
- Careful with that meme, Eugene !
-
- The MoQ as an evolutionary framework – recognizing that synthesis of the physical and the mental, as the evolution of special patterns through dynamic interaction over time.
-
-
-
- Man and ideas as inseparable and “co-creative” – consistent with the evolutionary process perspective and picking-up on an earlier idea (from Jorn Barger – the original blogger) that any subject of significance and complexity should be presented as a timeline, I created a biographical timeline of Bob’s life. That timeline stands as a biographical resource in its own right, but the process of creating and maintaining it reinforced the view that the context with which to understand a man’s ideas, is the man’s life and motivations. Where was he coming from when he wrote this stuff?
-
- Careful with that idea, Man !
-
- Man and ideas as inseparable and “co-creative” – consistent with the evolutionary process perspective and picking-up on an earlier idea (from Jorn Barger – the original blogger) that any subject of significance and complexity should be presented as a timeline, I created a biographical timeline of Bob’s life. That timeline stands as a biographical resource in its own right, but the process of creating and maintaining it reinforced the view that the context with which to understand a man’s ideas, is the man’s life and motivations. Where was he coming from when he wrote this stuff?
-
Latest Pirsig News
[Introduction] [Timeline] [News] [More] [Links] [Top] [Blog]
April 2024 – The RPA is up and running with members and a team of volunteers running the show. The plan is that these pages will be retired and/or archived once content considered valuable to the future of the RPA is migrated over. An eventful time as we enter approach the #ZMM50th anniversary and the summer dates of the #ZMM50thRide. Subscribe to news updates from the RPA at www.robertpirsig.org
October 2023 – Robert Pirsig Association and #ZMM50th – As a result of collaborations involved in planning and supporting events to mark the 50th Anniversary of the publication of ZMM (#ZMM50th) in 2024 it was decided to immediately create the Robert Pirsig Association (RPA) at www.robertpirsig.org as a vehicle to coordinate and promote Pirsig general and ZMM50th activities.
[As a consequence all subsequent “Pirsig News” will switch primarily to that RPA channel and will be shared directly via free email subscription to RPA and via social media channels including ZMMQuality on Facebook.]
June 2023 – Plans for 50th Anniversary of ZMM in 2024 – Henry and David over at ZMMQuality on Facebook have taken the initiative in inviting suggestions for their plans to mark the 5oth anniversary next year. I have a page here capturing what is public so far, updated as things change (See Oct 2023 Update)
March 2023 – On Hold – Proposal to create the “Robert Pirsig Association” in order to exchange information about and maintain future access to Pirsig-related resources – philosophical, rhetorical and physical. (See Oct 2023 Update)
[Note (Superseded by Oct 2023 Update): In recent years, since his death, successful efforts have been made to secure his archives with important institutions (see other news items below). Also a number of Pirsig scholars, clustered originally around the Lila Squad and the MoQ.Discuss Forum, have continued to correspond and some continue to maintain their own on-line Pirsig projects (see external Pirsig links below). The proposal is that the RPA be a properly constituted non-profit entity with elected trustees. Several possible entity and domain names have been secured (below). We will be seeking expressions of interest in creating the RPA constitution, acting as RPA trustees and supporting the RPA through membership. In the meantime treat the “ZMM Quality” Facebook Page/Group curated by David Matos as the clearing house for all things Pirsig.]
December 2022 – A newly digitised video(*) from 20th May 1974, Robert Pirsig talking at the Minneapolis College of Art just a month or so after publication of ZMM, hat-tip to Wendy Pirsig (with the help of son Ted Pirsig). (* Literally “video” technology. My brief review here.)
October 2022 – A New Yorker piece by Jay Caspian Kang – revisiting ZMM in the light of Wendy Pirsig’s “On Quality”.
April 2022 – “On Quality” published and reviewed. As noted last year (below) Wendy Pirsig’s selection of Bob’s writing “On Quality” is now published. My review here and Wendy interviewed in the (UK) Spectator magazine.
January 2022 – Meet The Guys @ ZMMQuality – interview with Professor Henry Gurr and David Matos about the active Pirsig-related web-pages they run.
August 2021 – Harper Collins announce publication of “On Quality: An Inquiry into Excellence: Selected and Unpublished Writings” by Robert and Wendy Pirsig for 26 April 2022.
February 2021 – Harvard University announce receipt of the full Robert Pirsig archive of papers and correspondence, donated by Wendy Pirsig in late 2020. To be curated by the Harvard “Hollis” on-line service alongside the William James collection in the Houghton Library – (a single archive entry only during Covid limitations – POST NOTE: now comprehensively indexed under “Collection Organisation”, with links to related collections).
October 2020 – A piece by Matt Crawford in The Smithsonian Magazine – “Why Robert Pirsig’s ‘Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance’ Still Resonates Today – The author’s meditation on technology treads a whole new path in the modern, digital world.”
December 2019 – The Smithsonian accepts the original Honda CB77 350cc Superhawk restored by Bob, and associated tools, artefacts and archive materials, donated by Wendy Pirsig.
-
-
- Paul F. Johnston of The Smithsonian publishes “Chrome, Black and Dusty” in the International Journal of Motorcycle Studies (Vol.17, 2021).
- Paul F. Johnston of The Smithsonian publishes “Bikes, Boats and Robert Pirsig” in Sea History (Vol.173, Winter 20/21).
- And a different version of the latter Paul F. Johnston of The Smithsonian “If Boat is Going Down“ with more photographs and images of Pirsig artefacts.
-
March 2018 – Montana State University acquire Dr Anthony McWatt’s Pirsig correspondence archives. (See also sale via Sotheby’s)
November 2017 – NPR re-publish Connie Goldman interview with Robert Pirsig at his home in St. Paul Mn, shortly after ZMM was published in 1974.
September 2017 – Robert Pirsig & His Metaphysics of Quality
by Dr Anthony McWatt in Philosophy Now.
24th April 2017 – Robert Pirsig dies at his home in Maine after a period of failing health.
-
- RIP Robert Pirsig – Ian Glendinning’s personal notes and obituary links on hearing of his death.
- Pirsig Meets Foucault – Ian Glendinning’s retrospective round-up of posthumous correspondence.
- After the Fireworks – Ian Glendinning’s further retrospective on the anniversary of the ZMM Road Trip.
7th/8th/9th December 2012 was the Pirsig Chautauqua 2012 organized by Chas Pinkava at Montana State University, Bozeman. Notable premiere of Lee Glover’s film “Meridian” and a lot more besides.
23rd June 2012 – saw the first broadcast of Peter Flannery’s dramatization of ZMM on BBC Radio4‘s Saturday Drama. [My review here.]
2008 & 2009
-
-
- the 35th anniversary of the original publication of ZMM in April 2009, Bob’s 80th birthday 6th Sept 2008 and the 40th anniversary of the original 1968 ZMM motorcycle trip 8th July 2008.
- Mark Richardson‘s book “Zen and Now” was launched on September 9th, 2008. Here a Q&A with the author and my own reflections on this milestone see this post.
- The first part of Ant McWatt ‘s Pirsig documentary film project “Arrive Without Travelling” was released on DVD in January 2008. [My review here]. The second part “On The Road With Robert Pirsig” released in January 2009 is an excellent documentary on Pirsig’s ZMM project [My review here].
-
2006 – Tim Adams of The Observer interviews Bob in Boston on what he claimed would be [and now turns out to have been] his last interview. Tim kindly acknowledges that many older historical details and quotes were sourced from the Robert Pirsig Biographical Timeline (below):
-
-
- The interview: Robert Pirsig – Observer 19 Nov 2006.
- Zen and the art of Robert Pirsig – Observer 19 Nov 2006.
-
Pre-2006 – See the Robert Pirsig Biographical Timeline
External Pirsig Links
[Introduction] [Timeline] [News] [More] [Links] [Top] [Blog]
- Academic writing on Robert Pirsig and his Metaphysics of Quality:
- Andrew Sneddon (1995). MA Thesis “A Process Analysis of Quality: A. N. Whitehead & R. Pirsig on Existence & Value“
- 1998 David A. Granger https://philpapers.org/rec/GRALTC-3
- Anthony McWatt & Robert Pirsig (2003) “Frederick Copleston Annotations“
- Anthony McWatt (2004) “A Critical Analysis of Robert Pirsig’s Metaphysics of Quality” (PhD Thesis & Textbook)
- 2010 McManus, Alan. https://theses.gla.ac.uk/2120/
- 2018 Ryan David Leack https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0xw4b306
- 2019 Barnaby D. M. Pace https://researchcommons.waikato.ac.nz/handle/10289/12806
- ZMMQuality Facebook Page and Group run by David Matos. The main clearing house for disseminating newsworthy information to the widest Pirsig community. Run in collaboration with Henry Gurr’s “ZMM Quality” pages – dedicated primarily to people, locations, details and photos of the ZMM journey and Chautauqua – but also a gold-mine of interesting information, news and links related to Pirsig more generally. (Active, with a large following. See Jan 2022 interview with Henry & David.)
- “Good Metaphysics” run by David Harding– High quality web pages dedicated to Pirsig’s Metaphysics of Quality in the context of our all-prevailing “subject-object-metaphysics”. (Current and active thru 2023 also via Blog and Twitter.)
- “A Quality Existence” run by Sevilla King dedicated mainly to accessible summaries of ZMM and Lila.
- “Lila’s Child” – web-site of the book by Dan Glover of the original Lila Squad collaborating with the author to elaborate on the MoQ. (Live but infrequently active in 2023.)
- Dave Chadwick’s Cuke.Com pages on San Francisco Zen activities, including recollections and a collection of letters and photographs of son Chris Pirsig corresponding with Bob and Wendy. (Letters donated by Wendy after Bob’s death.)
- Gary Wegner’s “ZMM Route Map” – the definitive detailed Google Maps version of the ZMM Route complete with GPS waypoints. (Map live and current in 2023. Other content dead. For #ZMM50th in 2024 Henry Gurr has a new version with 600+ waypoints and 800+ photographs.)
- Jim Ostby an ex-student of Pirsig is an author who also posts with reference to Pirsig on Facebook and Twitter.
- Matt Kundert’s “Affliction” – a blog with many long thoughtful essays relating Pirsig to modern pragmatists, and in particular Richard Rorty. (Live but infrequently active in 2023. Last MD related post in 2010.)
- Paul Turner’s “Twelvelinks” – a blog specializing on interpreting Zen (and other) Buddhist aspects of Pirsig’s work. (Inactive since 2008. Paul’s later essays can be found at robertpirsig.org currently also inactive.)
- Sam Norton’s “Elizaphanian” – a blog originating in Pirsig interests but focussing on relating the Reverend’s day-job to the big issues of the day. (Still active in 2023, but few recent Pirsig references.)
- Caryl Johnson’s “Meta-Q” – a blog dedicated to the furtherance of MoQ, with many excellent essay-length posts. (Inactive since 201o.)
- Mark Richardson’s “Zen & Now” – promoting his book “Zen & Now”. (Inactive since 2008.)
- Doug Renselle’s “Quantonics” – Some of the earliest on-line Pirsig-related material including author correspondence. Idiosyncratic attempt at new language of MoQ. (Live in 2023 and active on many political and ethical topics.)
- “robertpirsig.org” – originally run on behalf of Dr Anthony McWatt and dedicated to academic philosophical research into Pirsig’s MoQ, a documentary film project and linking to new publications. (Had fallen into disuse. Domain secured in 2019 as holding pages at robertpirsig.org and themoquniversity.org as part of attempts to create “The Robert Pirsig Association” (RPA) for posterity. UPDATE 2021: pirsig.org and robertpirsigassociation.org now also secured. UPDATE OCT 2023 robertpirsig.org now repurposed as The Robert Pirsig Association – see news above.)
- “MoQ.org” – the original “Lila Squad” / MoQ-Discuss (MD) on-line resource for discussing and interpreting Pirsig’s work – not for the faint-hearted; (almost) no-holds-barred – moderated by the ever patient Mick “Horse” White. (Currently inactive but resources incorporated into work-in-progress plans to create the RPA above.)
- MoQ on Wikipedia – Make of it what you will, literally.
- The MoQ Wiki – Ditto, make of it what you will.
- And, the original Psybertron Pirsig Pages contain many more such links. [These pages are kept as a matter of record only, and a number of other links on that page and in the blog side-bar have being re-organised onto these pages.]
More Pirsig Content on Psybertron
[Introduction] [Timeline] [News] [More] [Links] [Top] [Blog]
The Psybertron Blog & Pirsig Pages have been curated by Ian Glendinning since 2001/2002. Their content includes:
-
-
- WHY THESE PAGES?
Pirsig’s lasting influence on Ian Glendinning’s work (May 2023):
“Ian Glendinning, Psybertron & Robert Pirsig” - Ian Glendinning’s key retrospective / summary posts:
from September 2008, from April 2017 and from July 2018 - Ian Glendinning’s picture / mental image of Pirsig’s MoQ. Also reviewed again in June 2017 and incorporated into later metaphysical proposals.
- The Psybertron blog post category “Pirsig” (little used)
- The Psybertron searches on “Pirsig”, “MoQ”, “ZMM”, “Lila”, and more … (little used)
- The Psybertron Pirsig Biographical Timeline (Much used web resource, source of much content published by others. Not significantly updated in scope since 2009, simply a matter of historical record and links to sources. But new links to published historical materials and reviews are added into the timeline.)
- The now defunct Psybertron ZMM Route Map – The best place to go is Gary Wegner’s Google Maps ZMM Route (Map active, but other content unmaintained. For #ZMM50th in 2024 Henry Gurr has a new version with 600+ waypoints and 800+ photographs.)
- The Psybertron blog post reporting on the 2005 Pirsig Conference
(Full 2005 conference record from the original MoQ.org site here.) - The Psybertron paper presented at the 2005 Conference (with slides here).
- The Psybertron collection of old media clippings.
- The Psybertron collection of Pirsig Photos and links to more.
- The original Psybertron Pirsig Pages (increasingly redundant but plenty more links).
- WHY THESE PAGES?
-
[Introduction] [Timeline] [News] [More] [Links] [Top] [Blog]