EE Cummings said, in paraphrase, something like “not for philosophy cares the rose,” so is it unkind to label philosophers as mental masturbators? It seems like mental masturbation is an apt term, invented to describe your average philosophy department, especially when Abe (Joaquin Phoenix) shows up at the R.I. university to teach.
In Woody Allen’s most recent offering from Sony Pictures, Irrational Man, Abe comes to his post with a lot of baggage and a somewhat sullied, if romanticized, reputation Like most philosophy professors, Abe gives his students Kant’s principles, sprinkles in a little Nietzsche, peppers in a dash of Heidegger’s theories, and stirs it all up with touches of world literature. All this theorizing leaves many a philosophy addict wondering how to act.
“I think, therefore I am,” is not for the weak of will or faint of heart. It takes effort and interest to be in the world, Many of us can overthink anything, while life floats away.
Nothing seems to enliven the depressed Abe, not the attentions of randy fellow prof, Rita (Parker Posey.) Even the sweet and sincere Jill (Emma Stone), a student whose parents also teach at the college, can’t get him out of his funk.
Abe’s inspiration finally comes from a concept that readers of Camus should understand. He decides to avenge a woman (Susan Pourfar) he does not know by killing the judge (Tom Kemp) who is making her custody battle hell.
This project brings Abe back to life. He begins to take pleasure in everything as he becomes an arbiter of life and death.
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