A Complete Meditation on Quality

“[Phaedrus] simply said that at the cutting edge of time, before an object can be distinguished, there must be a kind of nonintellectual awareness, which he called awareness of Quality.” (Pirsig, 314) To begin to look at the idea of Quality one must first be self-aware that it is there. This period of self-awareness is very similar to that of judgment. It is the moment where the person sees what is in front of them and determines how it is, in shape, kind, and level of Quality. But the judgment that is made does not take place in the objective; rather it is subject to the person who is the viewer. Therefore Quality is different for everyone; every person is able to take in the value or worth of something, but all take it in differently. These ‘value’s and ‘worth’s are simply substitutes and placeholders for Quality. Quality is the framework by which humans’ judge and relate. It is so central to how humans are, however it is an entity that is simply known. That is what makes Quality so vital to everyone; it is a ghost that is always with man, yet always just out of reach.

So to look at Quality one must look at everything else to determine the Quality that does exist. But here Phaedrus comes across a dilemma, “does this undefined ‘quality’ of yours exist in the things we observe? Or is it the subjective, existing only in the observer?” (291) This creates a problem because Quality certainly is there, but if it is objective it can be detected by instruments and if it is subjective then it only lies within the observer and is essentially this “large pile of nonsense” (Ibid). But Quality is the result of the interpretations one makes when viewing, while Quality still lies within even if the interpretation have not been made. So it appears that Quality does in fact exist in both forms, but the opposite is true. Quality in fact does not exist in either case, it exists between them, it is the midpoint between these two, and it creates a bridge in this duality. Quality brings together the objective and subjective, the fact and the opinion, it allows man to understand that though these two polar forms of thought exist there is a way to understand both at the same time and that is where Quality reveals itself.

This talk of duality is important because Quality is important to this idea of two opposites. The classic clash between Romantic and Classical Thought – the “Subject-Object Duality” also exemplifies Quality’s role in all of this. Again Quality is in fact the midpoint of this duality, therefore creating a three-pronged approach, which in itself is no longer duality. First it is necessary to look at what Romantic thought and what Classical thought are. In the novel both John and Sylvia come together as the representation of this Romantic thought. It is very similar to what one might think based on the verbiage in that Romantic thought focuses on the more traditional mindset, one that is comfortable with that status quo and usually not accepting change and the new. This form of thought is something everyone attains at some point in their life but is one that tends to be limiting and create barriers that become seemingly unbreakable. Classical thought on the other hand focuses on the more intellectual and logical thought processes and is usually open to change and then new. Phaedrus can be characterized as the purely classical thinker in the novel, searching for Quality in every crevice of intellectuality. Furthermore the narrator of the novel breaks down Classical thought down into both the objective and subjective forms of deduction. This is important in understanding the relationship with Quality because these objective and subjective forms have that similar relationship described above and lie within this greater relationship.

The motorcycle then becomes the platform for the discussion of this duality throughout the novel. The narrator picks the motorcycle apart piece by piece describing the various intricacies that exist within and as a whole. This gets compared to the way John and Sylvia see the motorcycle, where they simply see how it is to the naked eye and do not see its inner beauty and its true form. That true form is what the goal is for the narrator. That quality that exists; John, Sylvia, and the narrator all perceive the quality that exists but they are all unable to truly define it. It in fact is there, right in front of them, but they see it very differently, the Quality is used for each of them to see what they want to believe out of it. That is why Quality occurs between the Romantic and the Classical; it is open to infinite interpretation based on the one that perceives. It allows both types of thinkers to bridge the gap between the other; the Quality allows them to open their eyes and see that there is always another way to see it. Quality is the midpoint, it is there, but it is not definable because it is different for everyone, it is always changing, but Phaedrus could not just end here.

The “System” encompasses everything that one is able to perceive. Therefore it is simply a resultant of consciousness. “A real understanding of Quality captures the System, tames it and puts it to work for one’s own personal use, while leaving on completely free to fulfill his inner destiny.” (283) So one must be able to understand Quality without being able to define (because it is undefinable as has been addressed) and then they will truly be the master themselves and understand oneself. So Phaedrus was searching so hard for Quality for this very reason, he wanted to become this master; he wanted to be able to understand. But it is in fact impossible to understand and know all; this is why Phaedrus had to go through the transformation to the more relaxed narrator. But this haunts the narrator and is ironic because the narrator in turn goes back to searching his past for answers that can make him this master again. It is a vicious cycle that never lets one go. The curiosity drives the narrator back to the same place he had been pushed away from, that is the way the “System” works.

            Quality is therefore a part of every person, it makes everyone who there are. The Quality that exists within the narrator and Phaedrus is one and the same. They are both searching for Quality because they are both trying to find themselves. Phaedrus chooses to search through countless books of philosophy and question his students, desperately hoping someone has the answer. In the same way the narrator has chosen to take this trip across the country in order to clear his mind, relive the past, and most importantly find himself. The narrator also explores Quality through the various Chautauquas he recites throughout the book. This can be likened to the search that Phaedrus has made during his time at the University. But in the end what they are searching for is not a tangible something; it is not a trophy that one can hoist and show to the world. The Quality that he has searched for his whole life is everything that he is, his experience, his family, his ideas. It is very simple in the end; the narrator sees this in his son and it has taken his entire life for him to realize this, he finally reaches peace.

            It is now necessary to explore the reasoning for the novel as a whole. As has been said the narrator is going on this trip to remember his past and find himself. He has decided to take this journey to try to fulfill the goal that Phaedrus has had for so long. The novel itself acts as a way for the narrator to go through a form of catharsis through his recounting of the past as well as the Chautauquas. But what is most important about this journey is right there next to the narrator the entire novel. It is not the motorcycle which he has used as a platform for all of his discussions, it is his son Chris. By the end of the novel the narrator is as mentally exhausted as Phaedrus was before he went through the transformation. But this time he has his son next him; here he sees himself with his tendencies that he has and remembers he once had. Chris opens the narrator’s eyes to see that Quality cannot truly be found, it is something that is earned. The Quality that he has searched for his whole life is within himself and is exemplified through the actions of his son who can be seen as very similar to the narrator. This powerful realization allows the narrator to finally come to terms with his lifelong struggle with Quality. This is the Quality that the narrator and Pirsig have been getting at. Quality is perceptible entity that cannot be defined. It is very important to know these two truths in order for an understanding of Quality to exist. It is simple, it is complex, it just is.

While it is necessary to uncover Quality through the many facets of Pirsig’s novel, there are also others ways of seeing Quality in order to better understand it. The way that modern man live is based on the barter and trade system. The worth or Quality that people see in objects, ideas, or abilities determines how each man communicates, interacts, and views one another. The Quality of one man’s worth may be higher than that of another. The Quality of the field of work may be valued higher in modern society that that of another. All people assume Quality in their everyday lives, it is necessary, it is there, but Quality exists and is accepted because that is the nature of how Quality is. Pirsig uses an example in the novel relating to mechanics that is perfect and solidifying this idea. An owner of a motorcycle may need help when it comes time to fix different parts of the vehicle. Yet, the owner will identify better mechanics from others based on the Quality of their work. While there may be arguments and disagreements among people, there is no arguing the Quality in the work of one mechanic against another. They may both be ‘fine’ mechanics that get the job done, but there is that one that has what some may call the ‘touch’ or ‘edge’ over the other. It is noticeable and can be equated with ability or workmanship, but it is not a tangible entity, one mechanic just attains more Quality in his work than the other. It is a fact that all people live with but it is accepted and not really noticed. Quality is there, and that is the point.

The journey on the road that is Quality is a strange and hard one. It is easy to see that both the narrator and his previous self (Phaedrus) struggled for a long time with the subject at hand. One could also say that the essence that he was searching for can never actually be found. Quality is an idea that is still so foreign to the human conscientiousness, while it is still deeply embedded into innate perception. This is a subject that can never be fully understood, yet the narrator shows that there is a point where it can be accepted for what it is. This duality is what is most important when looking at Quality. There are all of these contradicting statements made that are both true of what Quality is. This is why it is truly undefinable because there are cases where it contradicts itself. Quality is a ghost that follows each and every person all of the time and that is just how it is. Acceptance is the hardest part on the nature of this subject, but that is just the way it goes. Quality is, but it also is not.