Furiosa and Philosophy

Matthew P. Meyer and David Koepsell

George Miller’s Furiosa tells the backstory of the character we first met in Fury Road. As in the other Mad Max films, characters, including Furiosa, confront alternatives that stand in stark contrast to each other as modes of adapting to the Wasteland. So the choices made reveal philosophical roots.

Furiosa: Two Kinds of Existentialism

Furiosa is typically existentialist. She recognizes the position she is in (which is usually terrible) while nonetheless working toward her life’s goal: taking revenge on those who kidnapped her and killed her mother, and ultimately, trying to find the Green Place of her childhood.

There are several times where she could have tried to fight back against Dementus and Immortan Joe but probably would have died trying. She is willing, in the early scenes, to return to try to save her mother, which explicitly went against her mother’s instructions and put herself at great risk. She escapes the potential assault by Rectus by wisely planning ahead and creating a fake wig. When it’s clear that she will be next in line after Praetorian Jack to be dragged behind the motorcycle of someone in Dementus’ gang, she saws off her own hand. So, she is only willing to accept the confines of her situation up to a point—the point of trying to save her mother’s life, or her own bodily integrity, or her life.

At various times in the movie she is a daughter of the Green Place, an adoptive daughter of Dementus, a would-be child-bride of Immortan Joe, a mechanic, a Praetorian, whose sole purpose appears to be to shuttle the War Rig across dangerous routes between the five fortresses of the wasteland, and a fugitive. Finally she is her independent self, before she is returned to the Citadel after being wounded.

Furiosa is both committed and not committed to whatever role she finds herself in. This exhibits well the both/and approach at the heart of Jean-Paul Sartre’s existentialist philosophy. Sartre condemns what he calls “bad faith,” the state in which we fully identify with a present circumstance or a past that is no longer, or in which we fully identify with a future that is not yet. In other words, the existential ideal is one in which a person does not fully identify with their current situation: “I am only a daughter to Dementus”; likewise they would not fully identify with an unfulfilled future: “I am a hero who will return to the Green Place and save my people.” Furiosa avoids bad faith with the help of others. For example, Praetorian Jack cautions an overly-ambitious young Furiosa not to set out for her homeland before she is properly equipped mentally and physically.

There are limits to Furiosa’s existentialism in the form of her longing for her dead mother, and her desire to return to the Green Place. She demands that Dementus “bring them back!” knowing full well that such a thing is physically and logically impossible. And yet, the existentialist does well not to let go of her life’s project—to keep the faith, so to speak. After all, because we are the ones who are responsible for making our own meaning, we need to have projects and goals that can provide that meaning. It’s not necessarily wrong to have a goal or meaning that is an objectively “lost cause” if—and this is a big if—we are tacitly aware that thing is no longer possible. In fact, Søren Kierkegaard, the father of existentialism, calls his highest existential hero the knight of faith: the one who could simultaneously renounce the object of their longing in this world, forestall it indefinitely, to imagine its possibility in the next. For Kierkegaard, Truth was not determined by the objective probability THAT something will happen, but rather HOW we hold the object of faith—with “passionate inwardness.” For Kierkegaard, the object of faith is what we passionately believe will happen against all odds.

Perhaps deep down Furiosa realizes that she has already missed the opportunity to rescue the Vuvalini of the Green Place. What does she do instead? She rescues the enslaved wives of Immortan Joe—helping them escape and find their own projects and passions in a world that makes that exceedingly difficult. In this way she turns the object of faith—saving an already ruined world—into an object of action—doing what she can to save this world.

Idealism vs. Pragmatism

Along with existentialism, another of the main themes of Furiosa is the clash between idealism and pragmatism, two philosophical approaches to dealing with reality. In loose terms, idealism is the belief that reality is shaped by our ideas, values, and beliefs, and that we should strive for the highest ideals regardless of the circumstances. Pragmatism, on the other hand, is the belief that reality is independent of our minds, and that we should adapt to it by finding practical solutions that work in the given situation.

Furiosa, as her name suggests, is driven by a fierce rage against the oppressive and exploitative system that has turned the Wasteland into a nightmare. She is not loyal to any particular leader or faction, but rather committed to her own survival and freedom. She does not have a clear vision of a better world, but rather a vague hope of finding a place where she can live in peace. She is willing to use any means necessary to achieve her goals, even if that involves betraying or killing those who stand in her way. She is a pragmatist, who adapts to the harsh reality of the Wasteland by being resourceful, cunning, and ruthless.

Praetorian Jack, in contrast, is an idealist, who believes that there is a higher purpose and meaning to his life. He is loyal to Immortan Joe, whom he seems to respect as a father figure and a leader, even if he does not agree with all of his actions. Praetorian Jack is not willing to compromise his values or principles, even if that means risking his life or losing his love. He is a noble and heroic individual, who seeks to help Furiosa on her quest to return home to the Green Place.

The contrast between Jack and Furiosa is evident in their different reactions to the Wasteland. Furiosa sees it as a place of oppression and exploitation, where she has to fight for her survival and freedom, whereas Jack sees it as a place of opportunity and adventure, where he can fulfill his purpose and destiny. He has become one of the great war rig drivers of the Wasteland, reveling in his adventures, and then sharing his skills and wisdom about the road with Furiosa. He is handsome, energetic, young, and idealistic in his approach to the Wasteland and its inhabitants, as well as to the Citadel and its leader, to whom he has apparently been loyal since before The Fall.

Philosophical and political idealism can be traced back to ancient and modern thinkers, such as Plato and Immanuel Kant. Plato, who is considered the father of philosophical idealism, argued that there is a higher realm of abstract and perfect forms, which are the true reality, and that the material world is a mere reflection or imitation of these forms. He also advocated for a utopian society ruled by philosopher-kings, who would have access to the forms and govern according to them. His most famous work is The Republic, where he presents his vision of an ideal state. Immanuel Kant, who is considered one of the most influential modern idealists, argued that human reason can discover universal and rational moral laws, which are the basis of human dignity and freedom. He also proposed a cosmopolitan vision of a peaceful world order based on these laws. His most famous work is the Critique of Pure Reason, where he examines the limits and scope of human knowledge.

American thinkers, such as John Dewey and Richard Rorty, are prime examples of philosophical and political pragmatism. Dewey, one of the founders of philosophical pragmatism, argued that human experience is the source of all knowledge, and that knowledge is constantly tested and revised by the consequences of human actions. He also advocated for a democratic and progressive society, where education, communication, and cooperation are the means of solving social problems. Rorty, one of the most influential contemporary pragmatists, argued that there is no objective or universal truth, and that truth is relative to different contexts and purposes. He also proposed a liberal and pluralistic society, where tolerance, solidarity, and irony are the values that foster human flourishing.

The events in all the Mad Max films support pragmatism, as they show that the characters who survive and thrive in the Wasteland are those who adapt to their changing circumstances and act according to what works best for them and their allies, rather than adhering to rigid ideals or principles that may not fit their reality. Furiosa and Mad Max are two examples of pragmatic characters, who survive while others, like Jack and Immortan Joe, fail due to their devotion to higher goods.

Against Nihilism

Contrary to pragmatism, idealism, and existentialism, nihilism is the belief that nothing has meaning. Nihilism differs from pragmatism in that it is not operating on some baseline reality with the goal of working toward truth (or justice, or beauty, or what have you). The nihilist will operate in whatever way is to their advantage without any thought about what is true or real. In Furiosa, this position is exhibited by Dementus who has bullshitted his way to the top of a gang, and then into being ruler of Oil Town. We think he is committed to Furiosa as a substitute for his deceased daughter, but he easily leaves her with Immortan Joe when she becomes part of a negotiation. He seems to think that he could take the Citadel without a second thought about his plan. But most importantly, at the end of the film he betrays his lack of connection to reality and life: “We are all already dead. . .” he tells Furiosa as she is contemplating how to kill him. And, to exhibit his priorities even more, he asks her: “Do you have it within you to make it epic?” Dementus’ life was a life of con-artistry, catch what catch can, without any relation to reality, planning, or real value commitments. So while he is occasionally someone to laugh at, or fear, he is not someone to emulate. It’s fitting in the end that Furiosa gets her wish and outlives him, even if we do not exactly know how she kills him. By contrast, the fact of Furiosa’s survival, pitted against characters both good and bad, whose ideals, or complete lack thereof, lead them to doom, suggests that pragmatism is the best course in the Wasteland.

MATTHEW P. MEYER is Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. He has contributed chapters to several books in the Wiley “And Philosophy” series, as well as journal articles covering Nietzsche, Mystic River, environmental ethics, and colonialism.

DAVID KOEPSELL is an entrepreneur, author, philosopher, attorney, and educator whose recent research focuses on the issues arising at the intersection of science, technology, ethics, and public policy. He is a Visiting Assistant Professor in the Philosophy Department at Texas A&M University.