Precariousness, Grievability, and the Ethics of Non-Violence — Shared Vulnerability in Political Life | Chapter 5 of Precarious Life by Judith Butler

In the concluding chapter of Precarious Life: The Powers of Mourning and Violence, Judith Butler brings her ethical and political inquiry full circle. Titled simply "Precarious Life," Chapter 5 explores how the human condition of vulnerability—what Butler calls precariousness—can be the foundation for a new kind of global ethics rooted in non-violence, empathy, and mutual dependence. Drawing on the philosophy of Emmanuel Levinas and his notion of “the face of the Other,” Butler presents a compelling vision for how we might rethink politics in terms of shared fragility rather than militarized strength.

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Precariousness as a Universal Human Condition

Butler begins by asserting that precariousness is not an individual failing but a universal human fact. We are all vulnerable to violence, loss, and death, and this shared vulnerability should be the ethical basis for political life. However, political institutions often manipulate this fact by selectively recognizing whose lives are deemed grievable—and whose are not. This discrimination creates a hierarchy of humanity that legitimizes certain forms of violence while rendering others invisible.

The Face of the Other and Ethical Responsibility

Drawing from Levinas, Butler explains that our encounter with the face of the Other imposes a moral demand—a responsibility that precedes conscious choice. It is in recognizing the vulnerability of the Other that we come to understand our ethical obligation to refrain from violence and to respond with care. For Butler, the face is not just a metaphor, but a philosophical anchor for rethinking political relationships through compassion and accountability.

Grievability and Political Power

Butler expands on her earlier discussions of grievability—the extent to which a life is publicly recognized as worth mourning. In many cases, state power and media framing work together to deny grievability to certain populations, often those already marginalized by race, religion, or geography. These populations are cast outside the realm of legitimate concern, making their deaths politically irrelevant and ethically unacknowledged.

The Role of Media in Shaping Political Legitimacy

Media plays a pivotal role in determining which suffering is seen and which is ignored. Butler critiques how mainstream coverage selectively highlights certain victims while omitting others, reinforcing dominant narratives about good versus evil, victim versus aggressor. This selective visibility reinforces state violence by making it appear justified and necessary.

Non-Violence, Mutual Dependency, and Political Ethics

Rather than accepting this violence as inevitable, Butler urges readers to embrace a political ethics grounded in non-violence and interdependence. Recognizing that all lives are equally precarious demands that we move beyond militaristic responses to conflict. This ethics calls for the dismantling of hierarchies that privilege some lives over others and replacing them with an inclusive vision of global justice.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 5 serves as both a culmination of the previous arguments and a vision for a new political framework. Butler invites us to imagine a world in which empathy, ethical responsibility, and the acknowledgment of shared human vulnerability are central to political life. For students and scholars of political theory, ethics, media studies, and social justice, this chapter offers a blueprint for resisting state violence and fostering a more humane public sphere.

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