Thesis:
The
only way to try and comprehend life is through irrational thinking since the
rationale is something humans created in order to have a structure on how to
live. Throughout the
novel, Pirsig continually searches for a
logical explanation to every situation and scenario, but realizes that it is
not possible and eventually drives himself insane trying to do so.
Outline:
I.
Irrational thinking in
itself
a.
Quality
i. The way in which Phaedrus drove himself insane
ii. How Pirsig was about reach insanity through
the same form of thinking
b.
Smoking
i. Threatening to our health, yet we still do it.
ii. Why do we do it?
1.
Because we can
2.
A wanting of freedom
3.
The adrenaline-
comparison with skydiving and speed racing
iii. A “rational” mind would not participate in any
of these activities because they want to maintain their health; only doing what
benefits us.
II.
Philosophy and science
a.
Space is boundless
i. We all try understand it
ii. But we stop ourselves because we can’t.
b.
Quality
i. Pirsig’s definition
ii. My definition
iii. If it cannot be defined, does it exist?
iv. Phaedrus could not grasp it, but he did not
stop.
III.
Love
a.
How this attachment
seems to give life a purpose
i. Pirsig stops himself from going insane because
of his son, Chris
b.
Romantic and Classical
thinking
i. Definitions
1.
My own
2.
Pirsig’s
ii. How these terms apply to me
IV.
Religion
a.
How we give God all
the responsibility we cannot handle
i. Created for hope
ii. Praying
b.
There are no absolute
truths
i. Creationism
ii. Darwinism.
V.
Life
a.
Rational thinking does
not define it
i. People have different purposes in life
1.
Following religion
2.
Falling in love
3.
Being successful
4.
Being happy
b.
If we are dying since
we are born, are we living?
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