Afterwar

Movies like <em>American Sniper </em>and <em>The Hurt Locker </em>hint at the inner scars our soldiers incur during service in a war zone. The moral dimensions of their psychological injuries--guilt shame feeling responsible for doing wrong or being wronged-elude conventional treatment. Georgetown philosophy professor Nancy Sherman turns her focus to these moral injuries in <em>Afterwar</em>. She argues that psychology and medicine alone are inadequate to help with many of the most painful questions veterans are bringing home from war. <p/>Trained in both ancient ethics and psychoanalysis and with twenty years of experience working with the military Sherman draws on in-depth interviews with servicemen and women to paint a richly textured and compassionate picture of the moral and psychological aftermath of America's longest wars. She explores how veterans can go about reawakening their feelings without becoming re-traumatized; how they can replace resentment with trust; and the changes that need to be made in order for this to happen-by military courts VA hospitals and the civilians who have been shielded from the heaviest burdens of war. <p/>2.6 million soldiers are currently returning home from war the greatest number since Vietnam. Facing an increase in suicides and post-traumatic stress the military has embraced measures such as resilience training and positive psychology to heal mind as well as body. Sherman argues that some psychological wounds of war need a kind of healing through moral understanding that is the special province of philosophical engagement and listening.<br>