Martha C. Nussbaum

Martha C. Nussbaum is the Ernst Freund Distinguished Service Professor of Law and Ethics at the University of Chicago, with appointments in the Law School and Philosophy Department. She also holds affiliations with the Classics Department, Divinity School, Political Science Department, and the Committee on Southern Asian Studies, reflecting her interdisciplinary scholarship.

Her research spans political philosophy, ethics, law, emotions, feminism, human development, and animal rights. Nussbaum is renowned for developing the Capabilities Approach with Amartya Sen and for her work on the role of emotions in justice. She has published over 500 articles and more than 30 books, with recent works focusing on anger, fear, love, opera, and animal justice. Her latest books include Justice for Animals (2023), Citadels of Pride (2021), and the forthcoming The Republic of Love (2026).

The trends in her recent publications reveal a deepening engagement with moral psychology, institutional accountability, and the ethical treatment of non-human animals. Her work consistently bridges classical philosophy and contemporary social issues, using insights from Greek tragedy, Stoicism, and literature to inform modern debates on democracy, dignity, and justice.

Among her numerous honors are:

• Kyoto Prize in Arts and Philosophy (2016)
• Holberg Prize (2021)
• Balzan Prize (2022)
• Berggruen Prize for Philosophy and Culture (2018)
• Grawemeyer Award in Education (2002)
• Prince of Asturias Prize in Social Sciences (2012)
• Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
• Fellow of the British Academy
• Academician in the Academy of Finland
• Recipient of 69 honorary degrees worldwide

Nussbaum has advised numerous graduate students and is actively involved in research initiatives such as the Center for Comparative Constitutionalism, the Law and Philosophy Workshop, and the Animal Law Policy Initiative. She has received major teaching awards and is a Public Interest Faculty Mentor. Her work is supported by extensive publishing and public engagement, including frequent lectures and contributions to public philosophy.

She leads the Center for Comparative Constitutionalism and participates in interdisciplinary teams focused on animal law, public service, and philosophical interventions in policy. Her collaborative projects often involve legal scholars, ethicists, and social scientists working on global justice and human rights.