Studying at the University of Helsinki was the natural choice for Jörn Donner. But not natural in the same way as it was for his linguist and anthropologist father, Kai Donner, and his grandfather, Otto Donner, who was a professor of Sanskrit and Comparative Linguistics at the University of Helsinki.

“My mother thought that as the youngest I would emulate my forbears and study languages, but I did not go along with that. I did not even think about a career in academia.”

Donner had already started down a different career path when he began his studies. He published his first book—a collection of short stories titled Välsignade liv (‘Blessed Life’)—at the age of 18 in 1951.

“Studying was a subplot in my life back then. I had plenty of other work, and I published books.”

It took seven years for him to graduate with a master’s degree, but during that time Donner published seven books.

Donner feels that studying was of no real benefit to him when it came to the actual content of his studies.

“But it did teach me to be systematic in my work. Throughout my life I have spent a lot of time in archives, libraries and the National Archive, as many of my works are research based.”

Donner majored in Political Science and Scandinavian Literature. His minors were Psychology and Philosophy.

“The seminars given by Georg Henrik von Wright were the best that the University had to offer me.”

There were only three or four students at von Wright’s seminars, which facilitated proper discussion.

“Von Wright made us question various philosophical statements. One topic of discussion was Ethics, by G.E. Moore.”

Donner did not participate in student nation activity. He married in 1954 and had two children, the first being born while he was still a student at the University.

“It was of course somewhat of an obstacle. I still managed to take part in some drinking.”

Contrary to the 1960s and especially the 1970s, there was little political activity at the University in the 1950s.

“I wrote for left-wing magazines, but I did not participate in University politics.”

Careerwise, Donner does not recommend studying the humanities.

“Law and Economics are more useful than studying only humanities. The humanities are not very highly esteemed, and it is not going to get any better, they are looked down upon. You have to look out for your toes, hands and head if you have no possibility of earning a living.