Hidden Pirsig Influences

Having started this blog in 2001 (a couple of days after 9/11) I’ve freely acknowledged, and made many references to, the fact that reading Robert Pirsig shortly after that in January 2002, was a game changer for me in terms of the direction of my research thinking, reading and writing.

I’d started the research blog because I had already been seeing gaps – nagging doubts – in overly scientistic models of the world in systems of organisation & operation of businesses & governments. Doubts that stretch back to my doing an MBA (1988-1991) with a focus on “cultural” aspects of managing organisational change, but I hadn’t really considered the global seriousness of such gaps, beyond parochial business interest, until 9/11 “woke the world”, as I put it. So without knowing it, I already had a large part of Pirsig’s thesis in my head before I’d ever heard of him.

Actually making my connection to Pirsig came in early 2002, from physicist Bryan Josephson (of Josephson-junction / electron-tunnelling Nobel prize fame) whose work with Henry Stapp explicitly suggested the conclusion that “Eastern thought was in some sense more fundamental than physics itself“. My mind was blown by that: that an actual physicist, a physics Nobel prize-winning Cambridge don no less, might conclude such a thing. It instantly put me in mind of that meme of a book title “Zen and the Art …” that my memory recalled as associated with systems & engineering management reading-lists where I’d previously ignored it – because of it’s weird title.

So unlike most people, who read Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance (1974) earlier in life, who found it intriguing but difficult, requiring several re-reads before they “got it”, when I read ZMM (and almost immediately his 1991 follow-up Lila) I was “Yes, yes, yes!” at almost every paragraph first time through. That naiveté has of course evolved since, but it put me on that philosophical track.

If the serious Physics<>Zen connection had blown my mind, reading a rhetorical novel full of such wisdom, opened and expanded a second half of my brain that I’d clearly never used before. Previously a user of only technical texts by choice, I became a born-again reader of any and all kinds of literature. And philosophy. From seeing ontology as simply the taxonomic (classification) structures of the physical world I’d previously been dealing with in business systems & information modelling, I became exposed to the widest range of philosophies and metaphysics, and now had a name for the subject I was researching, namely Epistemology. “What, Why and How do we Know?” as I’d subtitled my blog before I’d known there was a name for it.

The rest, as they say, is history.

From 2002 to around 2010/11 I’d been very actively using and referencing Pirsig in my own work, and engaging in much discourse with others about Pirsig’s work. From then until 2017 I considered his work pretty much internalised in my own evolving theses and was referencing many other sources, ancient and modern, rather than Pirsig explicitly. Pirsig was my road into philosophy, but no one philosopher is the last word on any topic.

There was a significant uptick in Pirsig interest following his death in 2017: people following-up old links with questions and dialogue and; since 2022, a growing “Robert Pirsig Association” interest and traffic leading-up to the 50th anniversary of ZMM this year in 2024.

My life, thinking and writing are full of Pirsig references again. I fully acknowledge Pirsig’s influence on my own thought journey and happy to provide appropriate academic references alongside others. More to the point I’d recommend ZMM to anyone as an introduction to philosophy, especially those who can’t quite see or believe the limits to science. It’s a culture-bearing book, of its time. The post-hippie reaction to the oppressive technology of the military-industrial-machine (say) but others, as well as myself, who also acknowledge the influence of Pirsig on their own work, have also written to show us that the ideas are just as true for the technologies of our time, with ubiquitous ICT and electronic media technologies distorting our understanding of the world we inhabit in the 21st Century.

That much above, I’ve written, presented and summarised many different ways previously. I’m posting today, because a current agenda of mine is to capture others whose work was significantly influenced by Pirsig’s introduction to the philosophy of living, who have publicly acknowledged such connections even if they make relatively few explicit references in their ongoing work.

[To be continued …]

Michael Palin, Alan Bennett, Johnnie Walker, Grayson Perry, Rufus Hound, Jonathan Rowson, Dave Snowden, Ben Taylor, Al MacIntyre, Matt Kundert, Salman Rushdie, Neil Peart
ISSS, Gary Smith Eastern thinking follow-up. Thinking not doing (medicine)
The BBC 50th doc.

“Excellence” management fashion – Peters and Waterman

“Quality” management fashion.

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Holding Notes (from ChatGPT)

Robert Pirsig’s Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance (ZMM) has had a profound influence on many thinkers, writers, and influential people from various fields. Here’s a list of notable individuals who have referenced Pirsig’s work or acknowledged its impact on their own thinking and creativity:

1. Steve Jobs (Co-founder of Apple Inc.)
Although Jobs never directly cited Pirsig publicly, ZMM has often been discussed as a book that resonates with his philosophy. Jobs was known for his interest in Eastern philosophy and a desire to merge technology with artistry—concepts that are central to ZMM. The book’s themes of Quality and the balance between rationality and intuition align with Jobs’ vision for Apple.
2. Tom Peters (Management Guru, Author)
Tom Peters, author of In Search of Excellence, has praised ZMM as one of the most influential books on management and quality. Pirsig’s concept of Quality, in particular, influenced Peters’ approach to excellence in business, emphasizing the importance of craftsmanship and pride in one’s work.
3. Matthew B. Crawford (Philosopher, Author of Shop Class as Soulcraft)
Matthew Crawford, a modern philosopher who advocates for the value of manual work, has often referenced Pirsig’s ideas. His book Shop Class as Soulcraft reflects Pirsig’s influence by exploring the philosophical value of craftsmanship and the idea that working with one’s hands fosters a deeper connection to reality.
4. David Foster Wallace (Novelist and Essayist)
Wallace, known for Infinite Jest, has been linked to ZMM in academic circles, particularly for its intellectual depth and exploration of metaphysical themes. While Wallace didn’t cite Pirsig directly, the philosophical explorations of meaning, selfhood, and quality in Wallace’s works bear similarities to Pirsig’s influence.
5. Mark Richardson (Journalist, Author of Zen and Now)
Mark Richardson wrote Zen and Now: On the Trail of Robert Pirsig and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, a travelogue that retraces Pirsig’s journey from ZMM. The book discusses how Pirsig’s work deeply influenced Richardson’s life and career as a writer and motorcyclist.
6. Tim Ferriss (Entrepreneur, Author of The 4-Hour Workweek)
Tim Ferriss has mentioned ZMM in his podcasts and writings as one of the books that influenced his approach to life and work. Ferriss has spoken about the importance of Pirsig’s inquiry into the concept of Quality and the balance between analytical and creative thinking.
7. Iain McGilchrist (Psychiatrist, Author of The Master and His Emissary)
McGilchrist’s exploration of the divided brain and the tension between rational and intuitive thinking has clear philosophical overlaps with Pirsig’s work in ZMM. While McGilchrist doesn’t frequently cite Pirsig, the similarities in their examination of dualistic thinking are notable.
8. Elon Musk (CEO of Tesla, SpaceX)
Although not directly citing Pirsig, Elon Musk’s approach to innovation and technology reflects a Pirsig-like philosophy. Musk has often spoken about the importance of loving what you do and maintaining a sense of Quality, similar to Pirsig’s ideas on “caring” as an integral part of technology and work.
9. Ian Glendinning (Philosopher, Blogger at Psybertron)
Ian Glendinning is a notable advocate for Pirsig’s philosophical ideas and frequently discusses ZMM in his blog Psybertron. His work deeply engages with Pirsig’s exploration of metaphysics, Quality, and the reconciliation of scientific and philosophical worldviews.
10. Richard Baker (Buddhist Teacher)
Richard Baker, a prominent figure in American Zen Buddhism, has referenced ZMM as a work that brought many Westerners to explore Zen philosophy and practice. Pirsig’s fusion of Western philosophy with Eastern traditions like Zen has influenced teachers like Baker in how they present Zen to Western audiences.
11. David Whyte (Poet and Philosopher)
David Whyte, whose work often delves into the relationship between self and work, has been known to reference Pirsig’s ideas, especially around the concept of Quality and its role in creating meaningful experiences in both life and labor.
12. George Leonard (Author, Martial Artist)
George Leonard, known for his work on human potential and his book Mastery, often referenced the pursuit of Quality and the importance of attention and effort in achieving excellence—ideas central to ZMM.

AND

1. Academic Databases:
Google Scholar: Search for terms like “Robert Pirsig,” “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance,” “ZMM,” and “Quality” on Google Scholar. It will return peer-reviewed articles, theses, and academic papers that cite Pirsig or discuss his work.
JSTOR: Another academic database that contains scholarly articles and references to Pirsig’s work across various fields including literature, philosophy, and the social sciences.
ProQuest: Useful for finding dissertations and theses that might reference Pirsig’s work in various academic disciplines.
2. Books and Literature:
Google Books: Search for Robert Pirsig, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, or Quality. Google Books allows you to preview books that reference Pirsig and provides citations within the text.
WorldCat: An international catalog that lists books, articles, and other media in libraries around the world. You can search for works referencing Pirsig, ZMM, and Quality concepts here.
3. Philosophical and Literary References:
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: May contain articles on Pirsig’s philosophy or related themes such as Quality, pragmatism, or process philosophy, with citations included.
PhilPapers: A comprehensive directory of online philosophy articles and books by academic philosophers. Searching for Robert Pirsig or terms related to his work will yield a wide range of philosophical citations.
4. Citations in Popular Media:
Newspapers and Magazines: Using newspaper archives or databases like ProQuest Newspapers, you can find citations from prominent publications that discuss ZMM, Pirsig, or his philosophy. Magazines like The New Yorker, The Atlantic, and others have occasionally referenced ZMM in articles on philosophy, culture, and technology.
Medium and Blogs: Websites like Medium have modern reflections on Pirsig’s work. Blogs like Psybertron (by Ian Glendinning) frequently cite Pirsig and discuss ZMM and its ideas.
5. Business and Management Literature:
Management Books and Journals: Pirsig’s concept of Quality has influenced many business thinkers. Books on Total Quality Management (TQM), Lean Manufacturing, and Agile software development often cite ZMM.
Harvard Business Review or Sloan Management Review might contain references to ZMM in the context of leadership, craftsmanship, or Quality management.
6. Cultural and Artistic Citations:
Music and Film: Various musicians, such as Mark Richardson, have discussed Pirsig’s influence on their work. Some films and documentaries about motorcycling or philosophy also reference ZMM. Searching through IMDb or music archives could yield these references.
7. Publications by Influential Thinkers:
Search for authors who have directly referenced Pirsig, such as David Foster Wallace, Matthew B. Crawford, or Tom Peters. These authors often cite Pirsig in their own work.
8. Social Media and Digital References:
Twitter, Reddit, Quora: Social media platforms often have discussions and citations related to Pirsig’s work. Searching for “Pirsig” or “ZMM” in these platforms might lead to influential people or thought leaders who have referenced him in conversation threads.
Tools for Compiling:
Zotero: A free, open-source citation manager. You can use Zotero to collect references, create citation lists, and manage various formats of citations.
Mendeley: A reference manager that also has a social network component, allowing you to discover how Pirsig is cited in academic papers and research groups.
Starting Points for Online Search:
Search for terms like “Pirsig,” “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance,” “Quality” + “influence” or “citation” in platforms like Google Scholar or databases. Here’s an example of queries you can run:
“Robert Pirsig citation” or “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance reference”
“Quality concept in Pirsig academic influence”