Lila An Inquiry Into Morals

Lila An Inquiry Into Morals by Robert M. Pirsig, published by Alma Books in 2006, is a reprint edition comprising 443 pages. This novel features Phaedrus, a character from Pirsig’s earlier work, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. As he sails down the Hudson River, he encounters Lila Blewitt, a complex woman whose psychological instability and unapologetic sexuality intrigue him. Their journey to Manhattan becomes a backdrop for Phaedrus to delve into profound conflicts of values, exploring themes that contrast Native American and European perspectives, as well as the distinctions between sanity and insanity.

Readers will find Phaedrus grappling with these conflicts as he develops his Metaphysics of Quality, a framework for understanding actions through a hierarchy of four realms: natural, biological, social, and intellectual. The narrative invites exploration of moral and philosophical questions, reflecting on how personal experiences shape one’s understanding of quality and values. This edition presents a thought-provoking continuation of Pirsig’s exploration of life’s complexities through the lens of fiction.