Mutplan

Mutplan is a free-form planning system developed by Robert Pirsig, first introduced in his 1972 philosophical novel Lila: An Inquiry into Morals. The concept is based on a philosophy called "mystic mutualism," which explores the intrinsic values and ethics that govern human interactions.

In Mutplan, individuals designate their various activities and relationships as problematic (P) or non-problematic (N). For example, a person might consider a problematic situation like interacting with a socially awkward coworker as a (P), and their non-problematic relationships with close friends as (N). The idea is that an individual can choose how much value to place on each aspect of their life and prioritize accordingly.

Mutplan is often contrasted with more traditional 2 × 2 priority matrices, which categorize options as high or low in terms of both importance and urgency. In this distinction, Mutplan values the quality and qualitative values that can determine the importance of something, regardless of whether or not they are high or low. Instead, the method focuses on attributing value to an activity or interaction, allowing individuals to make decisions based on their own sense of right and wrong.

Critics of the system argue that it may be overly simplistic and unable to adequately capture the complexities of real-world situations. Some proponents, however, see Mutplan as an innovative framework for individualistic ethics and decision-making, even if its execution might often be more flexible than its advocates outline.