MacArthur Fellows Program

Danielle Allen

Classicist and Political Scientist | Class of 2001

Portrait of Danielle Allen
Title
Classicist and Political Scientist
Location
Chicago, Illinois
Age
29 at time of award
Published October 1, 2001

About Danielle's Work

Danielle Allen is a political theorist whose work spans the fields of classics, philosophy, and political theory, providing important perspectives on contemporary issues of race and politics. In her book, The World of Prometheus (2000), Allen examines the theory and practice of punishment in classical Athens as it affected both the intellectual elite and ordinary citizens, and as it contrasts with contemporary institutions and conceptions of punishment. Her second book, Talking to Strangers: Anxieties of Citizenship Since Brown vs. the Board of Education (2004), takes the events in Little Rock, Arkansas, and the landmark decision of 1954 as a starting point for an analysis of democratic politics that focuses on the roles that sacrifice and trust play in democratic life.

Biography

Danielle Allen received a B.A. (1993) from Princeton University, an M.A. (1998) and Ph.D. (2001) from Harvard University, and an M.Phil. (1994) and Ph.D. (1996) from the University of Cambridge. She currently serves as Dean of the Division of Humanities at the University of Chicago and as a professor in the Department of Classical Languages and Literatures, the Department of Political Science, and the Committee on Social Thought. She has taught at the University of Chicago since 1997.

Last updated January 1, 2005

Select News Coverage of Danielle Allen
More Fellows

View All 2001 Fellows

Stay Informed
Sign up for periodic news updates and event invitations.

Connect with us on social media or view all of our social media content in one place.

The privacy of your data is important to us. We've updated our privacy policies in response to General Data Protection Regulation.