Yonson: Janteloven

IN PLATO’S Apology, an oracle said Socrates was the wisest person in the community. Socrates thought otherwise. He believed that there were others who were much intelligent and wise than he was. He also claimed that he lacked knowledge and wisdom.

Our national psyche tells us that we are the best in the world. I hate to burst your bubble, but we are simply not the best in the world. Yes, we are not the best.

Every year, we send our fairest, brightest and strongest abroad. Like Manny Pacquiao’s annual bout, our world stops to renew our belief that we are the best in the world. As we miss that glorious moment, we do not only become sore losers but also a pack of ruthless animals in Rudyard Kipling’s The Hyenas. If our words could kill, then we become a nation of mass murderers. We do not respect the value of one’s existence.

One of the most self-effacing places to be in this world is any Nordic country; Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Iceland, or Greenland. The Faroe Islands. They are also the world’s happiest people.

Why? The answer is Janteloven (the Law of Jante), a code of conduct common among the Scandinavians. The ten rules first came about in the satirical novel of Aksel Sandemose entitled, A Fugitive Crosses His Tracks (En flyktning krysser sitt spor, 1993).

“You're not to think you are anything special,” says the first rule. Everyone is an equal. Many might think that this is impossible but yes, it is possible. Imagine if this rule becomes the mantra of all elected officials in the land, from the Palace along the Pasig down to my barangay.

“You're not to think you are as good as we are.” There is so much danger where everyone believes that they are better than anyone else. Look at how divided we are: pro-Duterte vs pro-Dilawan; Kapuso vs Kapamilya; Manila vs the rest of the country; and, many more.

“You're not to think you are smarter than we are. You're not to imagine yourself better than we are. You're not to think you know more than we do. You're not to think you are more important than we are. You're not to think you are good at anything.” Imagine if this happens in the schools and universities in the country. Our teachers will teach more because our students have become critical. Learning institutions become institutions that they really should be, an active body of knowledge.

“You're not to laugh at us.” The moment you start laughing at someone’s fault it becomes a farce, which would lead to bullying and so on. We always make fun out of something that is so gravely dangerous. Never realizing that it is still dangerous.

“You're not to think anyone cares about you.” I take care of myself. I am responsible for my actions.

“You're not to think you can teach us anything.” Because I have become an independent person, free to think for myself without forgetting the others. Without lording over the others.

When the Scandinavians argue, they change their minds if the evidence warrants it. They attack and stick with the arguments and never the character. They listen to the arguments of the others and avoid logical fallacies.

Socrates must have reincarnated as a Viking and branded the infamous Danish beer as “probably the best beer in the world.”

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