The Short Version
- Thomas Hylland Eriksen has passed away, aged 62.
- He was a professor of social anthropology at UiO and authored over 60 books.
- Hylland Eriksen was open about his illness, pancreatic cancer.
- He is praised by several prominent figures in Norway.
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In a post on behalf of the family, she writes that her husband “was always more concerned about others than himself, constantly curious about the world and the people in it.”
– Thomas wrote so we could gain wisdom and was focused on creating an understanding of the importance of differences in a complex world.
The two were married for nearly 30 years. Together they had two children.
– Our world becomes poorer without Thomas, writes Spjeldnæs.
Thomas Hylland Eriksen was among the country’s most prominent academics.
He was a professor of social anthropology at the University of Oslo (UiO) – a title he received at just 33 years old.
Throughout his career, he published over 60 books. His works – including academic textbooks, non-fiction, and novels – have been translated into several languages.
– First and foremost, this is incredibly sad. Thomas was a fantastic guy. He was extremely hardworking and productive. He has done so much for the field and for UiO, he tells VG.
– There are many of us who will miss him.
Thomas Hylland Eriksen
- Married to Kari J. Spjeldnæs, who is the department head at Kristiania University College and former publishing director at Aschehoug. Together they have two children.
- Hylland Eriksen has been employed at the University of Oslo (UiO) since 1991, where he also completed his education. Four years later, in 1995, he was appointed professor of social anthropology – at just 33 years old.
- Throughout his career, he published just over 60 books. Most recently, this fall, Hylland Eriksen published “The Ineffable – from global conformity to a new diversity”.
- He has received numerous awards for his work both at home and abroad. In 2002, he was awarded the Research Council of Norway’s dissemination prize, while in 2017 he received the Research Prize for his ability to expand people’s understanding of globalization and identity politics. In 2019 he won the Academics’ Prize.
Hylland Eriksen had been open about being sick with pancreatic cancer.
When he appeared on the UiO podcast “University Square” two years ago, he spoke about what it was like to receive the diagnosis in 2016:
– Initially, I would have thought that I would have become very scared, but I did
These experiences motivated him to write “Seven Opinions about Life.” The book only asks questions, Hylland Eriksen later emphasized – it has no form of answers.
– I know it sounds like a cliché, but when I staggered down the hospital corridor and sank exhausted into a chair, I took in the colors outside the window, the sharp September sun, the bright green lawn, and the colorful autumn leaves, and had a fantastic happiness experience just being here, he said in the podcast.
<img alt="Hylland Eriksen meeting VG in 2021 during the corona pandemic. Photo: Mattis Sandblad / VG" class="_image_e3l64_72 layout-component layout-normal" data-fullscreen-sizes="(min-width: 1000px) 2000px, 2000vw" data-track-element-type="Article image fullscreen" data-track-name="ImageFullscreen" height="3872" itemprop="image" loading="lazy" sizes="(min-width: 980px) 980px, 100vw" src="https://akamai.vgc.no/v2/images/6ec4364e-028a-47e2-ad7b-1d85c8318c91?format=auto&w=40&s=155d1a2285597347b69dc33fabe36d3672415414" srcset="https://akamai.vgc.no/v2/images/6ec4364e-028a-47e2-ad7b-1d85c8318c91?format=auto&w=40&s=155d1a2285597347b69dc33fabe36d3672415414 40w, https://akamai.vgc.no/v2/images/6ec4364e-028a-47e2-ad7b-1d85c8318c91?format=auto&w=80&s=a4e8b4413ba82a3fdb2976a63c91a5d52464e9bd 80w, https://akamai.vgc.no/v2/images/6ec4364e-028a-47e2-ad7b-1d85c8318c91?format=auto&w=100&s=5e0f3e447b99a64ca4394e2e56eb5a49018af677 100w, https://akamai.vgc.no/v2/images/6ec4364e-028a-47e2-ad7b-1d85c8318c91?format=auto&w=200&s=5c8241ba08a61a2af764f489ff9cbb50c7d2c243 200w, https://akamai.vgc.no/v2/images/6ec4364e-028a-47e2-ad7b-1d85c8318c91?format=auto&w=240&s=b1d27a25a0a8c4d770c023fca28323534b105a24 240w, https://akamai.vgc.no/v2/images/6ec4364e-028a-47e2-ad7b-1d85
Hylland Eriksen receives much credit for his unique role in communicating anthropology in Norway.
– This is due, among other things, to his outstanding ability to communicate his enthusiasm for the subject, says his colleague, department head Thorgeir Kolshus, to VG.
Department head of the Social Anthropology Institute at UiO.
He especially highlights Hylland Eriksen’s great work capacity and presence.
Today, thousands of students around the world gain their entry into the field through Hylland Eriksen’s foundational book in anthropology: “Small Places, Big Questions” from 1995.
– Thomas came up with the idea in June, and the book was finished in September, says Kolshus.
Hylland Eriksen was a well-known supporter of the Venstre party.
Former party leader, Trine Skei Grande, says he has been important in raising the debate about climate and the environment in Norway:
– He did it without a finger-wagging, but with a heart for the planet, she tells VG.
Trine Skei Grande, director of the Norwegian Publishers Association
– I believe the world is a little different because of him, at least Norway is. He always managed to give us new angles to view both the big and small questions.
Espen Barth Eide, Minister of Foreign Affairs (Ap)
– Thomas was a wonderful person, a strong, important, wise, and cheerful voice in societal debate, and a friend to his friends.
Knut Olav Åmås, director of Fritt Ord
– For 30 years he has been one of the Norwegian academics who has participated most actively in public debate and made it sharper and more knowledgeable – whether one agreed with him or not. He was a verbal firework.
How has Hylland Eriksen’s personal experiences influenced his contributions to anthropology?
Us, reflecting on the swift completion of Hylland Eriksen’s influential work.
His dedication to anthropology not only stems from academic interests but also from personal experiences that shaped his understanding of the world. As he confronted his illness, he found solace in the beauty of life and the profound questions it presents.
In a world increasingly shaped by globalization and identity issues, Hylland Eriksen’s insights remain vital. His ability to bridge academic theory and real-world relevance is what sets him apart as a leading figure in contemporary anthropology.
As the academic community honors his contributions, Hylland Eriksen’s legacy will undoubtedly inspire future generations of anthropologists and thinkers to explore the complexities of culture and identity with the same passion and curiosity he exemplified throughout his esteemed career.