Moral Injury and the Humanities: Interdisciplinary Perspectives

This book explores the concept of moral injury, which occurs when we are complicit in moral transgressions, and emphasizes the importance of the humanities in understanding its expressions, meanings, and significance. It presents new research from interdisciplinary scholars across three thematic sections, exploring how the humanities provide new lenses for understanding moral injury, the experiences of moral injury in various contexts, and the aftermath of moral injury beyond clinical research.

Format: Hardback
Length: 278 pages
Publication date: 11 August 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Moral injury is a profound disorientation that arises when we are involved in moral transgressions. While existing works on moral injury have primarily approached it from a clinical or neuroscientific perspective, this book aims to broaden and deepen our understanding of this phenomenon by bringing together leading interdisciplinary scholars.

In the original chapters, the contributors present novel research that underscores the crucial role of the humanities in comprehending the expressions, meanings, and significance of moral injury. They argue that the humanities offer unique lenses through which to explore the multifaceted dimensions of moral injury, including its conceptual, sociological, historical, and ritualistic aspects.

The book is organized into three thematic sections. Section 1 explores how the humanities provide fresh perspectives on moral injury by offering tools for understanding conceptual and genealogical themes related to this phenomenon. Section 2 highlights the experiences of moral injury among combat soldiers, law enforcement personnel, and noncombatants such as photojournalists. These chapters examine the power and limitations of theorizing moral phenomena through appeals to lived experiences. Section 3 delves into the aftermath of moral injury beyond the scope of clinical research. These chapters consider how ritual, relationship repair, and atonement might shape individuals' responses to moral injury and how such responses shape our understanding of our obligations to one another.

Moral Injury and the Humanities: Interdisciplinary Perspectives is a valuable resource for researchers and advanced students in philosophy, religious studies, literature, journalism, and the arts who are interested in moral injury. It offers a comprehensive and interdisciplinary exploration of this complex phenomenon, shedding light on its expressions, meanings, and significance in various contexts. By integrating insights from multiple disciplines, the book provides a deeper understanding of moral injury and its impact on individuals, communities, and society as a whole.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032249964