ABSTRACT
The introduction lays out some context for the book’s project, as well as orienting the reader to my perspective on the topic and my methodology. I offer a brief discussion of what trauma is and its major effects on survivors, as well as some current trends in the research and literature. I also present some of the literature on narrative theory, both in philosophy and in trauma studies. From the philosophical work, I draw on theories that emphasize the narrative nature of the self, and the importance of recognizing the interdependence of self-construction, as both will feature as themes in the book. From trauma studies I draw on therapeutic work that emphasizes the use of narrative in recovery, as telling one’s story in specific ways is understood as contributing to the rebuilding of the self after trauma. I argue that philosophy in general can be usefully understood as a form of storytelling, and that doing so helps to open it to participation from a broader range of voices. This is important for many reasons, but especially because philosophy’s “belonging” to the dominant culture has meant that it is often implicated in projects of domination, and these must be deliberately resisted. I then turn to a discussion of feminist phenomenology and the ways I see myself relying on it, and finish with a very brief mention of the content of individual chapters.
