First of all, systemic is not systematic. There is a huge difference. Systemic knowledge is that 'the parts can only be understood in the light of the whole. And that the whole can only be understood in light of the parts.' In plain english this means that systemic knowledge is to know that you can't seperate yourself from what you observe. An illuminate knows that good/evil are culturally defined ideas. They don't exist outside those who define them, right? The same goes for illumination. You see illumination can't be an objective state since illumination shows that objectivity doesn't exist: objective illumination doesn't exist.
According to illumination everything is systemic, even illumination. If objectivety is an illusion then you cant objectively be said to be illuminated. It is impossible to have an objective view of subjectivety. The result; _any_ world view is a valid as illumination, since they are all systemic. Illumination can in no way be said to be closer to the truth than, say an Uroxi's belief that all lunars are chaotic. The result; Illumination is no better than any other beliefs. And as a special, higher, better,- point of view it doesn't exist (in itself).
Now this doesn't mean that illumination doesn't exist in my campaign. But only in a cultural context: in my campaign illumination _is_ bad. But that is only because I play in the West. If I had played in Peloria then illumination would have been good. There is nothing more to it, its all context. And because it just context both are true at the same time, but in different cultures.
> Date: Wed, 23 Sep 1998 15:15:15 +0100
> From: "Paul Bestwick" <zopab1_at_nottscc.gov.uk>
> Subject: Illumination/Chaos and Truestone
>
> As I understand it Truestone is supposed to burn any chaos creature that
> touches it.
> However illumination prevents the detection of chaos/law by any means, So
> when an illuminated chaotic holds a piece of blank truestone and succumbs to
> the compulsion to cast their divine magic into the truestone, what happens
> if the spell is a chaotic one ? (Grant Chaos Feature etc.)?
>
> I'd appreciate any constructive comments..
Excellent question! I'd say it would work normally cause it is just a spell. Chaos is, according to the sources, 'nothingness,' or raw potential. A spell is a spell.
But then again that is just _my_opinion_, and it probably wasn't a very constructive opinion either. Sorry :)
More generally we are left with only one rule, if you buy my deconstruction of illumination that is; MGF. Do what is most interesting and don't worry about universal consequences (cause they don't exist :).
Frank Rafaelsen
Homo Ludens
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