Douglas Allen (philosopher)

In 2019, Allen published Gandhi after 9/11: Creative Nonviolence and Sustainability, which was reviewed as a "fascinating read" that "brings together effectively for the reader how a Gandhi-informed, non-violent response is creative, sustainable and relevant today." The review also stated that "this outstanding collection will be valuable to Gandhian scholars, students and activists".

On October 2, 2017, Allen delivered a keynote address to the General Assembly of the United Nations on the UN International Day of Nonviolence on “Mahatma Gandhi on Violence and Nonviolence.

Allen studied Gandhi’s peace education and his formulations regarding violence, including educational violence, and the violence of the status quo. He discussed the major key points of Gandhi’s peace education and regarded long-term preventative education and socialization as its greatest strength. In the late 2010s, he authored a paper titled, "Mahatma Gandhi’s Philosophy of Nonviolence and Truth" and presented an overview of Gandhi’s philosophy in the context of truth and nonviolence. He presented an alternative to anti-Gandhians, non-Gandhians, or reactionary Gandhians who over-idealized and decontextualize Gandhi and his philosophy.

Allen authored a paper on Eliade's critique of contemporary Western philosophy and culture, and presented his analysis of engaged self-other Marxist, feminist, Hindu and Buddhist encounters. In early 2010s, Allen published a paper on various aspects of Eliade's life and his scholarship, and reviewed and evaluated the interpretations made by Eliade's defenders regarding his work.

Allen has authored and edited five Gandhi-informed books, including The Philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi for the Twenty-First Century, Mahatma Gandhi, and Gandhi after 9/11: Creative Nonviolence and Sustainability. His book, The Philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi for the Twenty-First Century was published in 2008. According to Neelmani Jaysawal, "Gandhi’s philosophy has been presented in a number of contexts ranging from his ideas on religion, violence and satyagraha to his conception of a new society".

Allen is a peace and justice scholar and activist, and has been active in the Civil Rights Movement and the Vietnam/Indochina Antiwar Movement. He served as an Elected President of the International Society for Asian and Comparative Philosophy from 2000 till 2004. He is the Editor of the book series Studies in Comparative Philosophy and Religion published by Lexington Books.

Allen joined Southern Illinois University as an Instructor and Assistant Professor till 1972 and later taught for a year at Central Connecticut State as an Assistant Professor. In 1974, he joined the University of Maine and held appointments as Assistant Professor and Associate Professor before being promoted to Professor in 1981. In 2020, he was appointed as Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at the University of Maine. At University of Maine, he has been twice appointed as a Chairperson of Philosophy.

Allen received his Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Yale University in 1963 before spending a Fulbright year at Banaras Hindu University in India where he focused on classical Indian Philosophy. He then enrolled in Vanderbilt University and received his Master of Arts and Ph.D. in Philosophy in 1967 and 1971, respectively.