Mad Max and Philosophy: Thinking Through the Wasteland

Explore the philosophy at the core of the apocalyptic future of Mad Max

Beneath the stylized violence and thrilling car crashes, the Mad Max films consider universal questions about the nature of human life, order and anarchy, justice and moral responsibility, society and technology, and ultimately, human redemption. In Mad Max and Philosophy, a diverse team of political scientists, historians, and philosophers investigates the underlying themes of the blockbuster movie franchise, following Max as he attempts to rebuild himself and the world around him.

Requiring no background in philosophy, this engaging and highly readable book guides you through the barren wastelands of a post-apocalyptic future as you explore ethics and politics in The Wasteland, the importance of costumes and music, humankind’s relationship with nature, commerce, gender, religion, madness, and much more.

• Covers all of George Miller’s Mad Max films, including Mad Max: Fury Road
• Discusses connections between Mad Max and Nietzsche, Malthus, Mill, Foucault, Sartre, and other major philosophers
• Follows Max’s journey from policeman and family man to lost soul in search of redemption
• Examines the future of technology and possible impacts on society, the environment, and access to natural resources
• Delves into feminist themes of Mad Max, such as the reversal of heroic gender roles in Fury Road and relationships between power and procreation

Part of the bestselling Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture series, Mad Max and Philosophy: Thinking Through the Wasteland is a must-read for anyone wanting to philosophically engage with Max, Furiosa, and their dystopian world.

David Koepsell is an entrepreneur, author, philosopher, attorney, and educator whose recent research focuses on the intersection of science, technology, ethics, and public policy. He has provided commentary for MSNBC, Fox News Channel, The Guardian, The Washington Times, NPR Radio, the Associated Press, and other media outlets. He is currently a Visiting Assistant Professor at Texas A&M University.

Matthew Meyer is Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. He is the author of Archery and the Human Condition in Lacan, The Greeks, and Nietzsche, several chapters in the Wiley And Philosophy series, and journal articles on Nietzsche, Mystic River, environmental ethics, and colonialism.