As the title of Pirsig's first book suggests, much of the MOQ has to do with a non-intellectual Zen-like view of the universe. Yet Pirsig departs from mysticism by arguing that reason and logic are just as important in seeking understanding.
Pirsig is not the first author to try and bridge the gap between science and mysticism, however with the MOQ he structures the debate around a single concept--value. Pirsig attempts to throw new light on issues such as mind and matter, by discussing the behavior of particles at the quantum level and the nature of consciousness. At the social level he has much to say about racial tension, celebrity cults and mental illness.
Pirsig's concept of Quality is similar to that of Tao.