Lila: An Inquiry into Morals: Difference between revisions
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{{infobox book | |
{{infobox book || name = Lila: An Inquiry into Morals |
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| name = Lila: An Inquiry into Morals |
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| translator = |
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| translator = |
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| image = [[Image:RobertMPirsig Lila.jpg|200px]] |
| image = [[Image:RobertMPirsig Lila.jpg|200px]] |
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| caption = 1st edition |
| caption = 1st edition |
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| author = [[Robert M. Pirsig]] |
| author = [[Robert M. Pirsig]] |
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| illustrator = |
| illustrator = |
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| cover_artist = |
| cover_artist = |
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| country = [[United States]] |
| country = [[United States]] |
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| language = [[English language|English]] |
| language = [[English language|English]] |
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| series = |
| series = |
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| genre = [[Philosophical novel]] |
| genre = [[Philosophical novel]] |
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| publisher = [[Bantam Books]] |
| publisher = [[Bantam Books]] |
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| pages = 409 pp |
| pages = 409 pp |
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| isbn = ISBN 0-553-07873-9 (first edition, hardback) |
| isbn = ISBN 0-553-07873-9 (first edition, hardback) |
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| dewey= |
| dewey=813/.54 20 |
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| congress= |
| congress=PS3566.I66 L54 1991 |
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| oclc= |
| oclc=23732047 |
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| preceded_by = [[Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values]] |
| preceded_by = [[Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values]] |
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| followed_by = |
| followed_by = |
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'''''Lila: An Inquiry into Morals''''' (1991) is the second philosophical novel by [[Robert M. Pirsig]], who is best known for his classic text, ''[[Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance]]''. ''Lila: An Inquiry into Morals'' was a nominated finalist for the [[Pulitzer Prize for Fiction]] in 1992.<ref name="Pulitzer">{{cite web | url=http://www.pulitzer.org/bycat/Fiction | title=The Pulitzer Prizes <nowiki>|</nowiki> Fiction | accessdate=2008-10-02 | publisher=The Pulitzer Prizes}}</ref> This semi-autobiographical story takes place in the autumn as the author sails his boat down the [[Hudson River]]. Phaedrus, the author's [[alter ego]], is jarred out of his solitary routine by an encounter with Lila, a straightforward but troubled woman who is nearing a mental breakdown. |
'''''Lila: An Inquiry into Morals''''' (1991) is the second philosophical novel by [[Robert M. Pirsig]], who is best known for his classic text, ''[[Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance]]''. ''Lila: An Inquiry into Morals'' was a nominated finalist for the [[Pulitzer Prize for Fiction]] in 1992.<ref name="Pulitzer">{{cite web | url=http://www.pulitzer.org/bycat/Fiction | title=The Pulitzer Prizes <nowiki><nowiki>|</nowiki></nowiki> Fiction | accessdate=2008-10-02 | publisher=The Pulitzer Prizes}}</ref> This semi-autobiographical story takes place in the autumn as the author sails his boat down the [[Hudson River]]. Phaedrus, the author's [[alter ego]], is jarred out of his solitary routine by an encounter with Lila, a straightforward but troubled woman who is nearing a mental breakdown. |
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==Major themes== |
==Major themes== |
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== Reception == |
== Reception == |
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In an interview, the author has said that he is disappointed that more 'seriously thinking people' do not really understand his ideas fully. Many people, he says, wri<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Zen_and_the_Art_of_Motorcycle_Maintenance&oldid=562784014</ref>e to him that they re-read the book many times but still don't really understand it, adding "I have read many reviews criticising my ideas, but I have yet to see anything that proves me wrong. I'd like to give a |
In an interview, the author has said that he is disappointed that more 'seriously thinking people' do not really understand his ideas fully. Many people, he says, wri<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Zen_and_the_Art_of_Motorcycle_Maintenance&oldid=562784014</ref>e to him that they re-read the book many times but still don't really understand it, adding "I have read many reviews criticising my ideas, but I have yet to see anything that proves me wrong. I'd like to give a pri<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fl5OovFrYzc</ref>e to the first person who can convince me that my ideas about a metaphysics of qual<ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnUgx-QtJqE</ref>y are wrong."<ref name="npr">{{cite web | url=http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4612367 | title=Robert Pirsig Discusses 'Lila: An Inquiry into Morals' | date=2005-04-21 | accessdate=2008-10-02 | publisher=[[National Public Radio]]}}</ref> |
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== References == |
== References == |
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Revision as of 09:51, 6 July 2013
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (May 2011) |
 1st edition | |
| Author | Robert M. Pirsig |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Philosophical novel |
| Publisher | Bantam Books |
Publication date | 1991 (revised edition published 2006) |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| Pages | 409 pp |
| ISBN | ISBN 0-553-07873-9 (first edition, hardback) Parameter error in {{ISBNT}}: invalid character |
| OCLC | 23732047 |
| 813/.54 20 | |
| LC Class | PS3566.I66 L54 1991 |
| Preceded by | Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values |
Lila: An Inquiry into Morals (1991) is the second philosophical novel by Robert M. Pirsig, who is best known for his classic text, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. Lila: An Inquiry into Morals was a nominated finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1992.[1] This semi-autobiographical story takes place in the autumn as the author sails his boat down the Hudson River. Phaedrus, the author's alter ego, is jarred out of his solitary routine by an encounter with Lila, a straightforward but troubled woman who is nearing a mental breakdown.
Major themes
The main goal of this book is to develop a complete metaphysical sys[2]em based on [[Pirsig's metaphysics of Quality|the idea of Quali[3]y introduced in his firs[4] boo`. As in his previous book, the narrative is embedded between rounds of philosophical discussion. Unlike his previous book, in which he creates a dichotomy between Classical and Romantic Quality, this book centers on the division of Quality into the Static and the Dynamic. According to the novel, the known universe can be divided into four Static values: inorganic, biological, social, and intellectual. Everything in the known universe can be categorized into one of these four categories, except Dynamic Quality. Because Dynamic Quality is indefinable, the novel discusses the interactions between the four Static values and the Static values themselves.
Another goal of this book is to critique the field of anthropology. Pirsig claims traditional objectivity renders the field ineffective. He then turns his concept of Quality toward an explanation of the difficulties Western society has had in understanding the values and perspectives of American Indians. One interesting conclusion is that modern American culture is the result of a melding of Native American and European values.
Another theme analyzed using the Metaphysics of Quality is the interaction between intellectual and social patterns. Pirsig states that until the end of the Victorian era, social patterns dominated the conduct of members of the American culture. In the aftermath of World War I, intellectual patterns and the scientific method acceded to that position, becoming responsible for directing the nation's goals and actions. The later occurrences of fascism are seen as an anti-intellectual struggle to return social patterns to the dominant position. The hippie movement, having perceived the flaws inherent in both social and intellectual patterns, sought to transcend them, but failed to provide a stable replacement, degenerating instead into lower level biological patterns as noted in its calls for free love.
Name inspiration
Although Pirsig attended graduate studies of Hindu philosophy at Banaras Hindu University and also attended Ramlila celebrations in India, the name of the female character, Lila, is accidental. "I asked Pirsig ... he said it was like 'lilac,' and that, 'it was the unsubtlety of the lilac odour and the hardiness of the bush that helped suggest her name to me.'"[5]
Reception
In an interview, the author has said that he is disappointed that more 'seriously thinking people' do not really understand his ideas fully. Many people, he says, wri[6]e to him that they re-read the book many times but still don't really understand it, adding "I have read many reviews criticising my ideas, but I have yet to see anything that proves me wrong. I'd like to give a pri[7]e to the first person who can convince me that my ideas about a metaphysics of qual[8]y are wrong."[9]
References
- ^ "The Pulitzer Prizes <nowiki>|</nowiki> Fiction". The Pulitzer Prizes. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
- ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McV-ridezgw&feature=related
- ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vIGazA67rU
- ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1l9WST5lXM
- ^ Glover, Dan (ed) (2003). Lila's Child. 1stBooks. pp. 383 & 354. ISBN 1-4033-5620-3.
{{cite book}}:|first=has generic name (help) - ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Zen_and_the_Art_of_Motorcycle_Maintenance&oldid=562784014
- ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fl5OovFrYzc
- ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnUgx-QtJqE
- ^ "Robert Pirsig Discusses 'Lila: An Inquiry into Morals'". National Public Radio. 2005-04-21. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
External links
- robertpirsig.org, A website containing a number of papers concerned with the Metaphysics of Quality.
- Pirsig describes Lila in an interview in 2005 (audio file)
- Critical Thinker resources on Pirsig
- A look at Pirsig's quality
- A forum about the Metaphysics of Quality