Burdened Virtues.

…could rioting represent a form of moral agency and action that is, if not directly constitutive of flourishing, at least linked to the possibility of eventual flourishing? How one answers this question, of course, will depend both on one’s conception of flourishing and on how open one is to perceiving rioting as a potentially effective tactic for resisting oppression and demanding change.

While reading Rioting as Flourishing? by Sarah MacDonald and Nicole Symmonds, this sentence made me think of a different perspective on eudaimonia, “This theory yields a dismal, frustrating, perhaps despair-inducing conclusion: that oppressed people, no matter their striving, will typically be unable to achieve the ideal of flourishing… This prompts us to ask: is such an “unattainable” flourishing simply another version of eudaimonia as privilege?” (p. 38) I think that eudaimonia (flourishing) only applies to non-oppressed individuals. Individuals that have advantages or benefits in various aspects of life, including access to certain opportunities, resources, and social power. On the other hand, the individuals who are marginalized or oppressed have it more difficult to flourish, meaning that while other are getting those advantages, they are being prevented from opportunities and benefits due to systematic oppression, racism, gender inequality… which, unfortunately, in the U.S., people are still experiencing this type of treatment.

To break this eudaimonia privilege barrier, riots are seen as a way of flourishing for those who are burdened by the abuse of power or authority. As stated in the Rioting as Flourishing? essay, “Even more, we are convinced that anger is a morally needed response to injustice and that hearing the rage of the rioter is necessary to flourishing.” (p. 39) I don’t support violence; however, I understand the anger and frustration people can feel towards abuse of authority. As mentioned before, systematic oppression, racism, police brutality… are still an issue in the U.S., and those who are being affected by it want change so they can live a flourishing life. Anger is definitely a morally justified response to injustice. Therefore, I agree that the rage of the rioter is necessary to flourishing. As said by Marting Luther King Jr., “A riot is the language of the unheard.” And violence gets the attention of the media.

This was, by far, a very interesting essay because it opened a different perspective on eudaimonia and how it can be related to social issues in modern society. People who have experienced this show their anger towards authority in order for their voices to be heard. These expressions often manifest in acts of arson, vandalism, violence, and chaos for an urgency on societal change, hoping for a true Justice For All.