Phaedrus is the author's doppelganger in Zen & the Art of Motorcycle
Maintenence, by Robert M. Pirsig, a man engaged in intellectual war with
himself.  Hostages are taken.  No one wins. He remains victorious.

Now, don't ask me what doppelganger means, beyond "two people" (e.g., alter
ego).   And I see no relationship between Phaedra myth and the Phaedrus
character in the book.

Chris Radcliffe
chrisr@slip.net
'90 Westy Auto "Blue Whale"

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf
Of Rachel Cogent
Sent: Thursday, May 31, 2001 7:47 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Seppuku?

How is this different from harikari?

Gnarlodious
PS; as long as I have you on the horn, wasn't Phaedra a charactr in Zen&the
art of Motorcycle Maintenence?

Entity PSavage spoke thus:

> Seppuku is an anchient Japanese suicide custom, still practiced
> today, appropriate when one is judged dishonorable or to have
> failed in some important pursuit that involves shame or loss of face.
> One commits seppuku by knifing one's self in the abdomen.
> Ouch!
> Phaedra