I am currently reading the 3rd section of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintainence...
It's by Robert Pirsig and is a book that reached celebrity status in the late 1970s. The route that he rode his cycle on is legendary today. It might be cool to discuss this further.
It's been years since I read the book. I am amazed at the way he described deep philosophical issues and managed to relate to them in such a straightforward way. I would love to discuss his ideas again, if I can still remember any of them!
The most important issue I remember is the explanation of the analytic method of analysis. It seems like he compared analysis, which he illustrated with the idea of taking major components of his motorcycle apart and then continuing to disassemble into smaller componets, with several other ways of trying to understand things. I believe he considered paradigms such as synthesis and systems analysis, although he may not have used the standard terms for them.
I thought it was a good read about finding pleasure in everything you do.
I finished that today. Long time. It took me a long time to understand the concepts.
I especially liked the fact that he was questioning science - it's methods and how it is subservient to philosophy.
Although, religion is undergoing questioning, science has still not reached a stage where it's re-checking it's results. Has anyone built any science from scratch? No.
But, I am not sure whether it's the right time to do that either.
Seems to be an omen - maybe I'll take it up again now.