Greetings from the Xyphokonic Order and Ordinance. Welcome to the last entry for the Period of Mauris, where we have focused on Commentary centering around Knowledge, scripture, and general philosophy. We will round out this period with discussing the dangers and negatives of misusing Knowledge in various ways and how to avoid doing so. Let us begin.

The most common way of misusing Knowledge is failing to understand Knowledge to begin with. We, as mortal humans, will acquire Knowledge during our time alive. However, simply receiving Knowledge doesn’t necessarily mean one understands such information. Humans, in particular, are prone to misunderstanding Realmly Truths due, in part, to our affinity for falling to corruption. A person may receive new Knowledge, but due a lack of critical thinking, patience, arrogance, or simply sheer ignorance, the lesson provided with such Knowledge will be partially or entirely misunderstood. Naturally, an ignorant interpretation of a Realmly Truth will result in an ignorant action based from such Knowledge.

Critical and Comprehensive thinking helps alleviate such circumstances. Once new Knowledge is received, examining such new information from all angles, thinking of why such Knowledge was bestowed or learned, and how should Knowledge would can be used to Maintain the Equilibrium.

Knowledge obtained or sought from Hubris-ridden goals will often be tainted or be subject to misuse. A person seeking Knowledge to fulfil a corrupted goal, seeking Knowledge from a spiteful or obsessive desire, or seeking knowledge to stave off a fear that has consumed them, will often use such knowledge negatively. In all of these cases, Hubris blinds the pursuit of Knowledge and blocks people from thinking critically or rationally about such Knowledge in lieu of desperately seeking the information itself.

Naturally, this is avoided by questioning all pursuits of Knowledge by looking within—asking oneself why they are seeking this information in the first place. Are you trying to solve a problem in your life, seeking answers to a confusing and troubled situation, or are you seeking this information to conduct future actions out of spite, anger, fear, or desperation; the latter case would need self-reflection and a readjustment of goals, less they fall to Hubris-ridden pursuits.

Finally, there are those cases where one would very much seek Realmly Truths with the clear intention of causing harm. In these cases, there is no ambiguity as to the reason for and future use of such Knowledge. People who intend to conduct nefarious actions will long-since cast away their concerns for others or the Equilibrium, seek out Knowledge, and use any Knowledge received to intentionally cause harm to others. The actions that follow will almost certainly be immoral in nature, and will be covered under the Divine Punishment if carried out, but the pursuit itself is corrupted as well.

These circumstances are avoided by preventing oneself from falling into corruption to begin with. In this case, Hubris isn’t necessarily a cause more so than corruption is. The management of our Self—of our Spiritual Psyche and our Core—to prevent such paths of destruction is key to preventing the willful abuse of Knowledge for nefarious means.

—phX, jzX