5 Danish Lessons and Using Janteloven as a Tool to Save our Future from AI

Whether you believe that the world has created us, or that we have created the world, one thing is certain: our world, at present, seems to be made for the individualist. The hungriest eats, the hardest worker gets the paycheck, and the nail that sticks out isn’t hammered down -it’s praised.

So let me ask you: do you feel at odds with this world? How could you not?

In truth, there is nothing wrong with these values -but when the world only shows us one perspective (the mandate for individualism), it threatens to alienate and isolate those of us that are not all-abiding.

Luckily, we are not alone. The Danish value of Janteloven contradicts the trending ideology that success is based on personal grind. Rather, the first requirement of Janteloven is: “You’re not to think you’re anything special.”

This simple commandment tempers the modern cult of individual achievement by reminding us that true worth is not measured solely by personal triumphs. In Danish culture, this ethos evolved as a safeguard against the isolating effects of unbridled ambition -a call for humility that prioritizes the collective over the self.

As we come to explore Janteloven, we will see how this principle has not only shaped social behavior but also fostered a community where shared success holds as much value as individual gain.

Oh, and one more thing: I wish badgers were in charge of AI.

The Badger That Learned Janteloven

Once upon a time, in a deep, dark forest where the earth was soft and cool, there lived a young badger named Jørgen. He was clever, oh yes, cleverer than the other cubs, faster in the tunnels, sharper in his nose for food. His mother would say, “Hush now, Jørgen. No badger is better than the sett.” But Jørgen did not listen.

In the sett, all badgers worked together. The diggers carved new tunnels, the foragers shared their worms, and the groomers picked the ticks from their kin. Even the old badger, who could smell rain before it came, did not call himself wiser than the rest. For in the sett, it was known: “You are not to think you are better than us.”

But Jørgen did think so.

One night, he grew tired of the sett and its quiet ways. “Why should I live among the small and humble?” he thought. “The forest is vast, and I shall make my fortune where badgers are great!” And so, without a word, he dug himself a tunnel away from the sett and vanished into the unknown.

The Burrow of Names

Jørgen wandered far, past the whispering trees and moonlit glades, until he found a great burrow unlike any he had ever seen. Here, badgers did not toil in silence. No, these badgers boasted of their skill.

One badger called himself Hakon the Mighty, for he had chased off a fox. Another was Freja the Swift, for she had once outrun a hunting dog. Each badger had a title, and the greater the name, the greater the badger.

Jørgen was given a patch of earth to mark as his own, but when he sniffed it, he found it bare.

“Where is my name?” he asked.

The other badgers laughed. “You must dig your own greatness. The deeper the burrow, the greater the badger.”

And so Jørgen dug. He had not yet fought a fox, but he carved a tunnel and declared, “Jørgen the Brave.” He had not yet found the richest worms, but he scooped up leaves and called himself “Jørgen the Provider.”

He boasted louder, tunneled faster, dug deeper.

The Shadow That Grew

But as Jørgen’s burrow stretched long and winding, something strange happened. A shadow followed him, creeping along the walls. At first, it was small, a flicker beneath his paws. But soon, it stretched high against the tunnel ceilings, whispering in his ear:

“Who gave you the right?”

“Who are you to stand above the sett?”

“You are no better than them.”

Jørgen ignored the voice. He dug faster, bragged louder. But the more he did, the larger the shadow grew.

One night, at the mouth of his burrow, the shadow stepped in front of him. Now, it was no mere shape but a badger of darkness, his fur a mirror of Jørgen’s own.

“Enough,” said the shadow. “You have run far, but you cannot escape me. It is time to return.”

Jørgen bared his teeth. “No—I am more than the sett-badger I once was! I have made myself great!”

The shadow laughed a deep, hollow growl. “No, Jørgen. You have only made yourself lost.”

And with that, the shadow lifted its great paw and struck down the burrow. The tunnels collapsed, the walls crumbled, and Jørgen fell into the dark earth.

The Return

Jørgen awoke at the edge of the sett, the wind cool on his fur. The great burrow was gone. The names were gone. He was home.

He sniffed the air and padded through the tunnels, past the foragers, the diggers, the groomers. None turned to greet him, nor did they scorn him. They simply went on with their work, as they always had.

His mother sat near the entrance of the sett. She did not ask where he had been. She only said, “Come inside, Jørgen. There is work to do.”

And Jørgen, at last, stepped across the threshold.

For in the sett, no badger was greater than another. And there, at last, Jørgen found his place.

Janteloven Moral of the Story

🐾 You are not to think you are better than us.
🐾 But you are not to think you are worth nothing, either.

Badger Behavior: A Living Illustration of Janteloven

The European Badger is a creature of intrigue. Known for their resourcefulness, these clever animals thrive not through ruthless competition but by depending on one another. Their embrace of a “flat-hierarchy” is a striking anomaly in a world where many similar species follow strict, vertical social orders.

This distinctive social structure has evolved alongside their way of life -they carve intricate mazes of underground tunnels, share food generously, and maintain a delicate balance where every member’s contribution matters. Should an “overly ambitious” badger attempt to seize control of the cete* or try to gain an unfair edge by hoarding food or slacking on tunneling, they’re swiftly cast out, their survival chances rendered abysmal.

By abiding by what might be called nature’s version of Janteloven, badgers demonstrate that strength lies in unity rather than solitary self-aggrandizement. Remarkably, these unwritten laws evolved not only beneath the shadowy floors of Danish forests but also thrive above ground -in our own human communities.

Janteloven in Modern Denmark

The growth of Janteloven as a cultural value did not happen by chance -its guiding principles, guided by a commitment to community, served as a crucial evolutionary strategy in the history of the Danish peoples.

Denmark’s history has been largely shaped by its rugged and unforgiving landscape, necessitating small, tight-knit communities. Those who were tempted by selfishness would come to be socially isolated at best, frozen in the wilderness at worst. Janteloven encourages communal orientation and personal modesty, serving as a safeguard against these dangerous conditions.

This Janteloven ethos was neither a hypothesis. It worked, and that’s why it is still present today. Those that were guided by equality were rewarded, a notion reinforced by the group whose goal was also survival.

In this way, it was understood that Janteloven was not a stifling of personal ambition, but rather a guide suggesting that group success was the only logistical way towards personal success. This line of reasoning ensured that Janteloven minimized social strife and reinforced community bonds, principles that were essential for survival in earlier times.

The remnants of this guiding principle are still seen in Denmark today:

Education: Whereas many schools around the globe utilize competition as a meter for success (think GPA or “valedictorian”), Danish schools place a heavier emphasis on collaboration as a beacon for a successful student.

Work C ulture: Like the badgers, many organizational environments abide by “flat hierarchies”, placing your boss as an equal, and not as a superior in the traditional sense. As such, team-oriented decision-making predominates.

Social Systems: Generous social welfare policies exemplify a societal commitment towards Janteloven.

Social Behavior: Danish are generally considered by other cultures as “more relaxed”. This, pairing with their preponderance towards humility rather than boasting, is how Janteloven is most obviously demonstrated amongst modern Danes.

The present success of Denmark as a nation and the Danes as a people, reinforce the fact that Janteloven is not about scorning ambition -rather, it is about redefining it in a way that grows your community, whether it be your immediate household, your nation, or simply, as people.

Why Janteloven is Useful to Us

In Daily Life

Janteloven, while far from perfect and subject to moderate modern dismay, serves as a counterbalance to unchecked individualism, making it all the more important in today’s world.

In particular, it can help us to:

Remember that, in a world where personal branding is everything, that success can, and arguably should, be measured by community success, rather than individual achievements.

Provide an ego check in the workplace by reframing goals as those that are less personal, and more team-oriented -leading to a greater difference made.

Take care of our mental health. By adopting Janteloven into our lives, we feel less pressure to become perfect, rather than measuring our value by our ability to play a part in something bigger than ourselves.

Regarding the Future of AI

Further, a Janteloven mindset should be brought into our future decisions regarding AI.

Ethical Development: Instead of searching for ways to get ahead and maximize personal gain, AI should be used to serve the collective good.

Job Market & Collaboration: AI should be used as a supplement to benefit the entire organization, not to replace the roles of present community members.

Social Media & Algorithms: Algorithms are consistently being “outsmarted” in an attempt to cheat the system and gain personal recognition. Could you imagine if we put in the same effort in calibrating our algorithms to benefit the community, rather than the self?

The Evolutionary Psychology of Janteloven

Janteloven didn’t just appear out of nowhere, nor was it thought up by a philosopher trying to keep people in check. It’s older than Denmark itself. It’s in the bones of the culture, wired into the way people think, act, and build their lives together.

Why? Because, for most of history, being the loudest, boldest, or most self-serving person in the room wasn’t just obnoxious, it was dangerous.

If you lived in a tight-knit farming village in 16th-century Denmark, you weren’t going to survive the winter by flexing your personal greatness. No one cared how strong you were if you didn’t help harvest the rye. No one admired your ambition if you didn’t show up when the fishing nets needed fixing.

The people who thrived were the ones who played by an unspoken rule: The group wins, or no one does.

This wasn’t just about keeping the peace. It was about survival. And that’s why Janteloven is still here today.

Let’s break it down.

1. The Past Is Not Dead: Why Our Brains Still Think We’re in a Village

Ever wonder why some cultural values refuse to die, even when the world changes? That’s called the Mismatch Hypothesis, and it explains a lot.

See, the world today is a screaming contest of self-promotion -personal brands, LinkedIn flexes, individual achievement. But our brains? They weren’t built for that. They were built for small communities, where getting along mattered more than standing out.

Denmark’s history is filled with small, cooperative settlements, where people had to work together to survive brutal winters and unpredictable seas. If you broke that trust by hoarding resources, taking more than your share, or acting like you were better than the group, you weren’t just annoying people. You were jeopardizing survival.

2. Why Selfish People Lost: Kin Selection and the Survival of the Cooperative

If evolution is about survival, then why doesn’t it favor the most ruthless, cutthroat people? Simple: because selfishness doesn’t scale.

In early Danish communities, no one survived alone. You needed people to share food when you were sick, to help build your house, to watch your kids while you worked. The individuals who contributed to the group were the ones whose genes stuck around.

This is Kin Selection Theory in action. The people who prioritized their kin and community, playing by the unspoken rules of Janteloven, ended up with stronger, safer, and more successful groups. And those groups were the ones that survived.

The selfish ones? They either got frozen out socially or literally froze to death.

3. Cultural Group Selection: How Janteloven Beat the Alternatives

Imagine two ancient Danish villages. One values cooperation, shared effort, and humility. The other? Every person is out for themselves.

Which one lasts longer?

Evolution doesn’t just work on individuals -it works on groups, too. And history shows that societies with strong trust, fairness, and teamwork are more stable, more prosperous, and more likely to endure than those ruled by greed and division.

That’s why Janteloven isn’t some accidental quirk of Danish culture. It’s a winning formula that helped their ancestors survive. And once a value like that takes hold, it sticks.

4. Status: Why Denmark Chose Prestige Over Power

Every society has its pecking order, but there are two ways to climb it:

Dominance – You force people to respect you through fear and power.
Prestige – You earn respect by contributing something valuable to the group.

Denmark chose prestige over dominance. Unlike other places where the biggest ego gets the prize, Danish culture historically rewarded skill, contribution, and trustworthiness. The best leaders weren’t the ones who shouted the loudest; they were the ones who quietly proved their value.

This is still true today. Danish workplaces, for example, run on flat hierarchies, where the boss isn’t some untouchable figure, but just another member of the team. You don’t rise by pushing others down, but by bringing them up with you.

Just like your body has an immune system to fight disease, societies have behavioral immune systems: rules that protect them from harmful behaviors.

Janteloven is one of those rules.

It’s designed to keep people from becoming so self-absorbed that they stop caring about the group. It prevents greed from running rampant, stops people from trampling over others to get ahead, and reinforces a mindset where success is measured not just by what you achieve, but by how much your community thrives.

In a world obsessed with individual gain, Janteloven reminds us:

You are not above the group, but you are also not worthless.
Your success matters, but it matters more if it helps others, too.

So, What’s the Takeaway?

Janteloven isn’t about shaming ambition. It’s about redefining it.

It’s about realizing that success isn’t measured by how many people know your name, it’s measured by how well you lift up the people around you.

And if that sounds radical in today’s world, maybe that’s exactly why we need it.

The Balanced Embrace of Janteloven: A Guide

Even the noblest guide has its shadows. While Janteloven can serve as a sturdy counterweight to a world that prizes solo triumphs, take heed: if applied too zealously, it risks muting your inner spark, stifling creativity, and discouraging the self-confidence needed to contribute uniquely. Remember, the purpose here isn’t to erase individuality, but to remind us that none of us can (or should) shine alone.

So, how do you weave the spirit of Janteloven into your daily life without losing the brilliance of your own light? Here’s a down-to-earth guide, in true do-this-but-not-that style:

Do cherish community over clamor, but not at the expense of your own growth.
Do: Invest in teamwork, share your wins, and support others as if every success were a communal harvest.
But not: Fall into the trap of self-erasure, where your achievements vanish into the collective murmur.

Do practice genuine humility, but not crippling self-doubt.
Do: Acknowledge that no one is inherently superior and celebrate the power of modesty in elevating everyone around you.
But not: Diminish your worth to the point where you’re too scared to let your ideas, your light, shine through.

Do check your ego regularly, but not so harshly that ambition is smothered.
Do: Keep your pride in check, reminding yourself that every contribution is part of a larger whole.
But not: Let the fear of being “too special” stop you from pursuing excellence or sharing your unique insights.

Do listen to the collective wisdom, but not so intently that your personal vision fades.
Do: Absorb the advice, learn from those around you, and let the community’s experience guide your steps.
But not: Sacrifice your own innovative ideas simply to conform -after all, fresh perspectives can enrich the group.

Do foster supportive bonds, but not at the risk of neglecting healthy boundaries.
Do: Encourage and uplift your peers, creating an environment where everyone’s voice is valued.
But not: Allow the group’s needs to override your own, leading to burnout or a loss of individuality.

In embracing these balanced practices, you honor the true essence of Janteloven, a philosophy that champions community without quelling the vital pulse of personal ambition. Much like the badgers of old who thrived by working together while still carving their own tunnels, you too can let your unique self contribute to a richer, more interconnected whole.

A Conclusion

In a world designed for the individualist, what happens to those whose worth is measured by more than solitary ambition? This prevailing ethos, which glorifies personal grind above all, risks isolating those who do not fit the narrow mold of unbridled individual achievement. Yet, within the Danish tradition, Janteloven stands as a counterbalance -a philosophy that does not seek to diminish ambition but to redefine success.

Janteloven’s simple injunction, “You’re not to think you’re anything special,” may sound austere at first, yet it invites a thoughtful reassessment of personal value. Instead of championing self-aggrandizement, it encourages a deeper recognition that true success is intertwined with the strength of the community. In a society that exalts the individual, Janteloven offers a refreshing perspective: it is not merely the personal victories that enrich life, but the collective progress that nourishes the soul.

The timeless wisdom embedded in Janteloven reminds one that the measure of worth extends beyond personal triumphs. It calls for a recalibration of ambition. The insistence on humility is not a demand for mediocrity; rather, it is an invitation to cultivate an inner balance where personal drive and communal welfare are not at odds, but mutually reinforcing.

In a world where success is too often defined by the loudest voice or the brightest spotlight, Janteloven proposes an alternative: one where every achievement, however modest, contributes to a larger, interconnected tapestry of shared human experience. By embracing this ethos, the narrative of success shifts from isolated conquests to collective flourishing, a perspective that holds promise for a future defined not by the isolation of individual winners, but by the enduring strength of a united community.

5 Danish Lessons and Using Janteloven as a Tool to Save our Future from AI

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