Interpreting Sustainability Using Robert Pirsig’s Levels of Quality

Problemy Ekorozowju - Problems of Sustainable Development, Vol. 6, No. 2, pp. 62-66, 2011

4 Pages Posted: 1 Dec 2011

See all articles by G. Venkatesh

G. Venkatesh

Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)

Date Written: June 1, 2011

Abstract

Quality, according to writer Robert Pirsig (of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance fame), is essentially goodness which humans should comprehend, appreciate and strive towards. It is the understanding or the comprehension he stresses on, in the said book, as a sine qua non for the success of any undertaking towards Quality. Sustainable Development is a Quality; a desirable one at that! Pirsig breaks up Quality into different hierarchical levels – Natural, Biological, Social, Intellectual and Mystic, in that ascending order of importance. He believes that when the Quality levels on the lower rungs start running amok and developing merely for their own sakes, without striving to bring about progress – visualized as being superior to mere growth and development, the mystics need to step in and create awareness of one’s true purpose in life. This essay is not an esoteric, metaphysical mini-treatise. It is also not just a book review, but an interpretation of the thoughts Pirsig has so wonderfully put into words in his book – LILA: An Enquiry into Morals.

Keywords: Quality, sustainable development, Morals, Pirsig’s Levels of Quality

JEL Classification: O13,Q20, Q32, Q41, R11, M14

Suggested Citation

Venkatesh, G., Interpreting Sustainability Using Robert Pirsig’s Levels of Quality (June 1, 2011). Problemy Ekorozowju - Problems of Sustainable Development, Vol. 6, No. 2, pp. 62-66, 2011, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1967031

G. Venkatesh (Contact Author)

Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) ( email )

Høgskoleringen
Trondheim NO-7491, 7491
Norway

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