Portrait of Robert Pirsig

Robert Pirsig

Writer and Philosopher
September 6, 1928 – April 24, 2017

Robert Maynard Pirsig was an American writer and philosopher best known for his influential 1974 book Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values. Blending memoir, philosophical inquiry, and a narrative road trip, the book explores the concept of “Quality” as a central metaphysical idea, delving into the relationship between technology, art, and human experience.

Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Pirsig showed early promise as a polymath with an IQ of 170. He studied biochemistry at the University of Minnesota before pursuing philosophy in Benares, India. His unconventional ideas about Quality emerged during his time as a teacher, eventually leading to personal struggles, including a mental health crisis, which he candidly addressed in his writing. Pirsig followed up with Lila: An Inquiry into Morals (1991), further developing his “Metaphysics of Quality.” His works continue to inspire discussions on the intersection of rationality, creativity, and values. Pirsig lived a private life, devoted to his family, philosophy, and sailing, leaving behind a profound intellectual legacy.

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