An Actual Alchemist Analyzes Fullmetal Alchemist - What Truth REALLY Is

[@dancreary3340]

There is a better name than Paracelsus' real name, and that name, is Joey Jojo Junior Shabadoo.

[@maxderrat]

Oh my god, this is in the top 10 comments I have ever received.

[@timsim83]

Hmm...something shorter? How about Bob? ;-)

[@asiblingproduction]

Is that a jojo reference?

[@giakhangtruong54]

@@asiblingproduction Even better, a Simpsons one

[@thehourman37]

@@asiblingproduction No... that's me...

[@madengineerkyouma]

Hiromu Arakawa sure did her research for FMA. Not only on alchemy, but if I remember correctly she also interviewed war veterans for inspiration on the military characters of the manga.

[@melancholicotaku]

I wonder what individual or individuals inspired Armstrong 😆 Still that’s really cool

[@giakhangtruong54]

@@melancholicotaku high chance it's Otto von Bismarck . The stache tells it all

[@juancarlosparrasanchez4913]

Also for the weaponry, tanks and so on.

[@claudiomora1007]

@@giakhangtruong54 actually basque grand was inspired for otto. She said it herself 😉.

[@octobsession3061]

@Magnustopheles YOU'RE CORRECT, damnit never tought of that

[@Pablo360able]

the thing about FMA is that no matter how great you think it is, there’s always another angle you haven’t considered that makes it even better

[@timmyturner327]

true

[@clonedllama]

100% this. I'm still discovering/learning about new things in the manga and second anime all these years later.

[@DC2792]

You have my complete agreement, sir.

[@DC2792]

Besides, is that not, truly, a description of all things that exist? Truth, and lies too, for what are they based off if not truth?😂

[@diegogaticaquintanilla3800]

I've just finished watching it again, for the sixth time, right before discovering this video, and yes that is absolutely true. That speaks to how much of an absolute masterpiece it is of a show.

[@Recoil1808]

As an interesting point, the idea of turning lesser metals (namely bismuth) into gold is actually entirely possible, but it is also incredibly inefficient, as we discovered when we did it. Though the methods we used when it happened were unknowable to the ancients, it is nonetheless amazing that they wound up technically being right about the possibility, even if wrong about the methods. Now, our civilization has achieved exactly one of the main reasons people dismiss the alchemists of old as pseudoscience (chrysopoeia) has not only been proven entirely within the realm of possibility, but we now do fairly similar acts almost regularly, such as within a nuclear reactor, turning uranium into things like xenon.

[@vysharra]

Agreed. It’s kind of crazy to realize they had some very true ideas, even if their methods weren’t what they needed. They KNEW, for centuries, that they only needed to unlock the right steps to change one element to another. And it’s possible, now that we understand atomic structure. I’m certain that if society continues to advance, our modern scientists will seem as misguided and silly to future peoples in many subjects.

[@segurall1]

The science fiction part of alchemy was the connections of elements to the soul/ body. Their idea of what the foundational elements were. And the process which they used to try to convert one element to another, which was through chemical bond separations.

[@Recoil1808]

@@vysharra Which is why I think it's actually straight-up *dangerous* to throw the term pseudoscience at the past like the men of the Renaissance threw around the term "Dark Ages." Our best and brightest minds are an almost guaranteed misunderstanding of the cosmos away from some twerp on Hypertwitter calling them brainlets.

[@Recoil1808]

@@segurall1 That is correct, though hindsight is, as they say, 20/20. They couldn't have known that 400 years ago, just as people couldn't have known during the Middle Ages that germs existed. Everyone can only work with the information they have available to them, at any given time.

[@WhoIsJohnblack]

Do you have a source for this claim of Bismuth to Gold?

[@Darasilverdragon]

I love Ed's cloak being ANOTHER direct reference to the stone, as well You have the crux serpens - the fixing of the volatile, often referencing elixir of mercury It's given wings, symbolizing the connection of the material to the divine and the earthly to the spiritual and topped with a crown, signifying a perfect and complete reaction And it's in black on red, suggesting a progression from Nigredo to Rubedo Absolute chef's kiss, Arakawa. Brilliant

[@WoobertAIO]

So, this all means that when alchemists in FMA used a Philosoper's Stone, they were quite literally borrowing the powers of God by sending the souls that made up the stones to see Truth instead of going themselves, therefore becoming able to perform otherwise impossible feats through the exchange of human souls for God's powers.

[@bernabo9115]

this actually makes so much sense and it's so mind blowing

[@darthravenous83]

I thought this was common knowledge?

[@itz_akuma]

So if they sent their own souls to truth , they would have been more powerful right .???

[@WoobertAIO]

@@itz_akuma no, they'd be fucking dead because they saw the Truth lmao Didn't you see what happened to Edward and Alphonse?

[@itz_akuma]

@@WoobertAIO yeah they got their limbs back and teleported to a different timeline . They didn't die 😭😭😭😭

[@bigblue344]

Full metal alchemist (brotherhood) has to be one of the best magic systems in fiction. Also I love the alchemy seals as they are based on actual occultism and how everything isn't just "science".

[@skunko1871]

If you enjoy reading and don't mind reading off a screen, check out Pact by John C McCrae (which is 100% free BTW). FMAB has one of the best magic systems, but Pact has the best

[@daruphir]

Right up there with novels like the one written by Shadiversity

[@ASNS117Zero]

@@daruphir Eh. I haven't been able to get into that novel. It really lost me where within the first few pages it makes a dick joke in what should be a serious scene.

[@AnalyticalReckoner]

You can't learn the history of chemistry without alchemy. Before science, there was natural philosophy.

[@redclayscholar620]

Yes you can. That's like saying you can't learn medicine without learning how to administer leeches and piss/oil potions.

[@huuuuuuh2057]

@@redclayscholar620 You can't learn about *the history* of medicine without learning about leeches and piss potions. Learn to read.

[@ihaveaplan.ijustneedmoney.9777]

@@redclayscholar620 you can't shoot down a comment without reading it properly first.

[@hunterx5niper461]

@@redclayscholar620 damn they humbled your ass quick asf. That’s what happens when you comment so confidently but have no idea what you’re talking about

[@Giganfan2k1]

Well.... I think alchemy, and chemistry have their own places. You can easily the knowledge of applied math>physics>chemistry>biology without getting into arcane concepts. However, the hallucinogenic reality of nature has its own framework. On that we can start hanging alchemy, sociology, and other rubrics of understanding.

[@DrDrolly]

I love how "truth" is a siluet made by dots. To me a beautiful symbol of how truth can just an estimation between all hints to it. Like truth is not hidden between the lines but lies between the dots. What a smart piece of fiction! I wish anime would get the recognition it deserves as a story telling medium. Thanks for the quality content mate!

[@LagMasterSam]

That also makes it seem like a wave function collapse.

[@ThomasWake-k9j]

It’s just a silhouette of negative space particles collected making almost a shade of grey which is where truth lies. Nothing is black and white; everything (truth) is a thousand shades of grey

[@Umekopyon]

Super interesting video! Just to let you know, the photo you show at 9:40 is actually of Romi Park, the Japanese voice actress for Edward. It's really difficult to find an actual photo of Arakawa since she stays out of the public eye, and so many of the photos that people claim to be of her are actually of Park, or of one of her editors, or of an announcer at a manga awards show... Fact of the matter is, she doesn't really want her face out there, so it's best to just use her cow avatar.

[@narutogen13]

You know it's crazy how Arakawa and some of the other manga authors not all of them of course are able to actually have a family and somehow make it work without turning into a train wreck with how tough their work schedules are but keeping your identity hidden would definitely help

[@josefarias5216]

@@narutogen13 it's possible that her anonymity is a big factor on keeping a normal life, I hope she's doing great

[@Weremole]

@@josefarias5216 she is! Her autobiography about growing up on a farm will be getting an anime adaptation.

[@dan_asd]

@@josefarias5216 Mangaka like her are the real superheroes in my opnion, of course they need to hide their identity

[@dadaikebukuro798]

Wow, honestly did not expect such specific and believable alchemy refrences in FMA. I have not watched Brotherhood yet, only the first season back in my mid-school days. As always, you make me wanna put on my nerd glasses on and study the entire show from its beginning to the end

[@tacitus_]

What you watched wasn't the first season, and it was hardly FMA. To make a long story short, the first anime ran out of source material after ten episodes and just made shit up after that point. Brotherhood is the real FMA based on the complete manga.

[@kimipotato6864]

@@tacitus_ yeah but onii-chan hits harder on the first one than brotherhood

[@antigrav6004]

I know you posted this weeks ago, but if you haven't seen brotherhood, it's a completely different animal compared to the first series. Like someone else said, only a few volumes were out at the time so the author let them do whatever they wanted to get a low quality series on tv (and a rather good movie) but neither are canon. Later on when the manga was finished they were able to adapt it properly with a much bigger budget. There's a reason brotherhood is universally considered one of the best anime series of all time. Definitely give it a go. I rewatch every year or so

[@fishencasedinjelly3950]

@@kimipotato6864 what

[@kenny995]

Brotherhood is definitely worth the watch, it's one of the best animes I've ever seen. I'm sure it'll be fun to watch h after this video so you can pick up on different things mentioned here.

[@nakamurakiyoko1058]

"The treasures of Hermes are not laid open in one book: perhaps one writer may render clear to you what another fails to explain." ~ Norton, Thomas. The Chemical Treatise, Or, The Ordinal of Alchemy. 1477 AD. Alchemical Tract More power to your channel. Looking forward for more videos like this.

[@maxderrat]

God bless you for your comment and this quote. I love it so much!

[@TheSpecialPsycho]

Holy shit, yes. I love it. I'm yoinking this

[@BirdOfHermes83]

Yup!

[@Thoughtmage100]

Finally another fresh interpretation of FMA Brotherhood. Just when I thought the references to alchemy in the series were only skin deep you come in and give me yet another reason to love my favorite series of all time. I can't wait to watch the rest of your youtube series as it unfolds.

[@thefifthaceassociation]

Im starting to realize that FMA is more so a show that is based on a reality where alchemy is an accepted law of nature rather than a show that simply incorporates alchemic concepts. But i had my suspicions about that, about 3/4 of the way through brotherhood. The ending was mind blowing

[@FallenAeon01]

As a student of philosophy with an interest in alchemic history, that loved the FMA:B anime... This was an amazing video... Well done!

[@maxderrat]

Thank you sir! A new episode in this series will be out on Tuesday. Stay tuned. :D

[@Cathowl]

As someone writing fanfic set in the FMA universe, who's also a fan of learning more about historical perspectives and philosophies, videos like this are just packed with useful and interesting information. And it always brings me back to thinking about the moral argument of FMA, the messages and questions it's trying to hand the viewer. And the ways I and my own characters clash with those philosophies and viewpoints. You're giving me a lot to chew on here.

[@pauloedermedeiroscardoso4020]

Send me the link if you have some time to spare :)

[@WildAlchemicalSpirit]

This is really awesome and I love your breakdown but there's one thing I want to point out. There's more reasoning behind salamanders and fire than I think you might realize. The salamanders that are known as "fire salamanders" are associated with fire because they have intriguing toxins in their skin. This has been known since ancient times and many experiments and uses have resulted since then. It's more than I can write about here but it's fascinating research. I recommend reading the paper entitled "A Salamander’s Toxic Arsenal: Review of Skin Poison Diversity and Function in True Salamanders, Genus Salamandra."

[@tommeakin1732]

"yes, Truth is basically God...but he's so much more than that" That got a giggle out of me

[@saerain]

Truth the Transdeist

[@absolstoryoffiction6615]

Omnipotence is the key... But those entities are eternities old. Older than Gods of this iteration. ... Not that humans will live long enough to reach it... ... ... The Origin of Existence... My old place to stay but time must move on.

[@jesscorbin5981]

@@absolstoryoffiction6615 Is that why alchemists soon abandon their dwellings, after you know...?

[@absolstoryoffiction6615]

@@jesscorbin5981 It could be... Or most likely... The King of their time did something to Alchemists.

[@jesscorbin5981]

@@absolstoryoffiction6615 But they can escape easily, no?

[@MegaDadHardlyChad]

Honestly FMA and FMA: Brotherhood are both SO good at everything they do. The characters staying true to their age, and who they are as a whole the entire series is so refreshing. And the scientific realism, mixed with fantasy is so great.

[@mrcx6142]

3:29 Fun Fact: The first name the dwarf in the flask proposed to Hohenheim was "Theophrastus Bombastus" Also fun fact: Paracelsus' name here was, to my knowledge, never actually confirmed as one full name but rather is a combination of all the names he was confirmed to use at one point or another. Edit: I knew I should've kept watching before commenting, you mentioned the first part of course.

[@abryant9166]

I usually go by the idea that every alchemist had their own language to which they encrypted their recipes. It’s important to note who’s writing the scripts and what their own symbols mean to them specifically. There’s definitely overlapping symbolism, but I’ve found that, depending on who’s writing, mercury might be mercury as in “spirit” or quick silver, but it may also just mean mercury. So having to read all the texts can be exhausting, but the alchemists had to do this because they were executed almost as often as women accused of witchcraft during the Inquisition. The whole “fire and brimstone” was even associated with “hell” because it came from all the alchemists being tried for sorcery because they would come out of their basement smelling like sulphur. I also really like that you brought up the “Philosopher’s son,” as alchemy is supposed to be “the art of philosophers” and Ed and Alphonse are the children of “Paracelsus.” Oh, and I don’t know if I’m right or not, but I think the family relationship between Ed and Al’s parents can be explained through the Genesis sketches by Jacob Boehme (those crazy diagrams with man (Adam) falling from god and wanting to be reunited with Sophia. It’s actually a similar family dynamic to Shinji, Gendo, and his mother.

[@thaumatik]

It's so ironic that fire and brimstone are viewed as the symbols of Satan when the text actually says they're elements that belong to God. I found an interesting tidbit in Job where they translated the Hebrew word for cypress resin into 'brimstone', probably because they both have a pungent odor and melt when set alight.

[@thaumatik]

It's interesting that you say that about terminology, because if you're referring to the Philosophical Principles then almost any trinary division of elements can be applied. Oil, Water, Salt. Proton, Electron, Neutron. Information, Energy, Matter. And on and on.

[@abryant9166]

@@thaumatik The church during the Inquisition period regularly used anything outside of their beliefs and power as blasphemous, which is how pagan deities (despite being in their bibles) ended up being retold into their own mythos as “demons” or dealing with Satan. Take Milton for example: Paradise Lost was used by the church to describe the tale of the fall of “Lucifer” even though Lucifer isn’t in the bible (Lucifer is Latin, which poses a problem considering the original scripture was Aramaic). They excommunicated Milton and stole his story to condemn and scare people, and the church has used that same tactic throughout all history (same thing happened to Dane Alighieri). If you were an intelligent woman and weren’t submissive, you were labeled a witch. Alchemists were healers and the church viewed them as blasphemers because “only god can heal” through prayer, devotion, and 5 pieces of gold to absolve your sins. 🙄 As for the trinity thing, that’s literally in every mythology. The number 3 can be found in every mythos since as far back as Ancient Greece with the fates, maiden mother, and crone, Hinduism (Shiva, Brahma, Vishnu), Egypt (Ra, Horus, Golden Horus-Ra), and Mesopotamia. None of the stories or symbols are new. It’s just the way it’s presented. The alchemists knew that and that was the point of their literature. They were connecting the old world to the new by combining “old world” medicine with new world technology. They viewed alchemy as a natural process and just taking what already happens in nature (the earth as a furnace) and applying it in a lab to speed up the natural processes because humans don’t live as long as mountains and trees.

[@thaumatik]

@@abryant9166 The thing about the very word daimon is that it translates to 'god'. The term in that context is just denoting a deity that isn't the Absolute. But the Inquisition was ultra corrupt and really Christianity as a whole has gotten to be filled with so many things that aren't in the scripture. If you research enough then you know that Lucifer is a stolen title. Heylel or Yalal is the word in Isaiah, they ended up with Lucifer because Jerome translated Heylel into Lucifer. However Heylel, in the positive context means 'praise' or 'brightness', yet in the negative context (which the verse is obviously negative) it means 'prideful', 'braggart', or 'madness'. And Yalal means 'howling' or 'wailing'. Whereas in 2 Peter 1:19 it refers to Christ as Phosphoros, literally a direct translation from Greek to Latin to English as Lightbringer. But even in the positive context Heylel doesn't directly translate to that. Something funny about the Bible is that there's plenty of examples of medicines being made and used, from OT to NT, and there's a lot of language that could even be taken as alchemical in some ways. And there are plenty of trinities. Personally I see the Hebraic God as being more like a tetrad, since there are at least four different major aspects described and they are way easier to understand than the common idea because they're the likeness which humans possess. Mind, Breath, Word, and Wisdom. The Mind is the Absolute, the Father. The Breath is the receptive means which conveys and maintains impetus, the Mother (as early Christian and old Jewish texts even describe the Holy Spirit as such - certainly not Mary). The Word, or Reason since Logos can mean either, is the pattern of information borne upon the Breath which holds coherent meaning and effect. And the Wisdom is the harmonious organization of information which allows for anything to work in the first place. If there's a Father, there must be a Mother. If the Word is the Son, then the only aspect left must be the Daughter since Wisdom is repeatedly referred to as feminine. And that's not even going into the seven spirits of God referred to in Revelation. It also explains how the Word could be with God and be God before it was spoken, because don't we think in words before they're spoken? Anyways, maybe that's just an overly philosophical take on it, but no one I've shared that notion with has ever really been able to say that it's a wrong one. Just a very philosophical one. It does challenge the entire Trinitarian idea though.

[@abryant9166]

@@thaumatik Satan comes from “hasatan” or “ha-satan” which is used as a noun or adjective (not a name) meaning “rebel” or “to rebel.” Someone who takes the time to read Job would probably pick up real quick that Yahweh actually being the villain in that story. There’s plenty of inconsistencies when it comes to the bible, so I agree with you. It’s an old text that has been retranslated so many times in so many different languages by people who claim it to be older than it actually is and won’t admit to those same inconsistencies (one of the languages doesn’t even use vowels). No one takes into consideration the fact that language was different back then either. One of the cultures has no word for “swimming” so would have had to have described such an action as “walking on water.” Why is the story of Gilgamesh the same as the story of Noah? Who is Moloch and why does his name, along with several other deities show up when there’s only supposed to be one god? Who is Asherah and is she important? These are things that should be questioned but often aren’t because faith is blind faith and not questioning. Philosophizing is important. It’s freeing. I’m glad to see another individual with an educational background. It sounds like you could have been in my classroom with me. Haha I always appreciate good conversation.

[@Jynxedlove]

I was a lover of alchemy from a young age, and by the time I was watching FMA, I was collecting Alchemy books. Brain damage caused me to lose all that knowledge, but I remember being so delighted and reinvigorated in my weird niche hobby, and wowing my friends with this kind of information while we watched. I actually found this video watching videos about alchemy to see if I can jog any memories, or at least re-learn what I lost.

[@ARBB1]

Good luck on your journey. Just remember that it's not because you lost something that it makes you lesser.

[@Jynxedlove]

@@ARBB1 I try to think of it as a chance to try things for the first time a second time!

[@thaumatik]

I know what that's like. I had a lot of alchemical knowledge built up and then the last concussion I had was severe enough that it seems to have dissipated in all but the essence of the things I learned. It also made it really difficult to focus on reading like I used to, which was like a book every other day, so it's difficult to reacquire. But ever onwards. Per ardua ad infinitum.

[@novakitty1619]

Have you had any luck trying to jog your memory?

[@RenyxGhoul]

The brain is very interesting and I am certain that with time you will learn it again and it will be your knowledge, a part of you, once again. What is yours will always be yours.

[@WillWilsonthesafetyguy]

I am BEYOND pleased that KZbin recommended this video and by extension, your channel. I've only ever come at FMA: B from a storytelling/film-making perspective which has given me tonnes to think about on that aspect alone (it's a masterclass in that regard). I've certainly appreciated how cohesive the use of it's version of alchemy is and how much it enhances the story but I had no idea (not knowing much about alchemy) just how brilliantly the concepts of alchemy are and how smartly they're being used and represented in Fullmetal Alchemist. I am greatly anticipating further videos on it. Now I'm off to binge your entire backlog of content, starting with that Evangelion video you referenced.

[@ctran1955]

I’m furious!! FURIOUS at KZbin for not showing me this video earlier!! I love this so much!!

[@PTFoxyMomma]

This is so cool! I'm glad your video came up on my home page. You do an amazing job trying to explain everything. Thank you for the content!

[@BrandG.]

I'm glad you enjoyed FMA Max, I was one of the ones cheering for you to reveiw it. It was what first drew me in to the study of historical alchemy.

[@spinfoilhat3087]

I wonder if you would get a kick our of the alchemical stuff that was shown in Destiny with the launch of Witch Queen. It's very easy to miss details, but Witch Queen was heavily saturated with alchemical symbology. I'm no alchemist, but just taking a passing look into what has been showing up has been mind blowing. I can't remember much of the details that led me to my current theories and interpretations right off the top of my head, only that this rabbit hole went VERY deep. The Witch Queen realized she is in a child universe (inside a game) and is looking to achieve immortality (lots of references to the philosopher's stone in this) by entering this parent universe and live on through the human minds that reside there. The trailer had flashes of the Three Primes as well as a few references to Osmium, the armor set that we received with that DLC also has the same or similar symbols. There's a LOT. I really wish I remembered more of this rabbit hole to convey how wild this got, but maybe you might have a better time looking into that yourself.

[@SergioLeonardoCornejo]

I actually love alchemy references in fiction. They're awesome.

[@Zayindjejfj]

It's worth noting shapes and geometric patterns are pretty prominent and important in alchemy. And there is the concept of "the final shape" in Destiny.

[@maxderrat]

I've heard so much in regards to Destiny and how wonderful the lore is. This just spikes my curiosity even more. Is there someway I can learn about the lore in a chronological way without playing the game?

[@andrefilipe9042]

@@maxderrat "My Name is Byf" - Is the name of the go to KZbinr when you want to learn about the story of Destiny. He has a video of I believe, 4 hours telling the whole story of Destiny, plus an animated movie about The Books of Sorrow. A set of books that detail the entire story of the Hive, the faction to which Savathun belongs to. Here's the link to the almost entire story of Destiny: kzbin.info/www/bejne/b57FdYusebOkirc

[@stapuft]

@@andrefilipe9042 yeah 100% he is basically the "vatividya" of destiny content. he makes great vids, and explains stuff very well.

[@EpicBehemoth]

Literally subbed just for the next videos in this series. So glad someone has finally decided to talk about how in depth FMA gets

[@menmajay]

This was super interesting to watch! Funny - the exact spot where you said to pay extra attention was the exact spot I got distracted by hearing (what I think is) Ori and the Blind Forest music in the background. "Up the Spirit Caverns Walls" - very apt. Great video - glad I tuned in!

[@Fharalys]

Nice music choice! The Pillars of Nosgoth...what an amizing throwback! 😍 And interesting video too!

[@timsim83]

“You might want to increase your attention slightly” = “Squirrel” in my mind. I reacted just like a Pointer, and froze in attention of the audio. More narrators should utilize this phrase in correct moments.

[@dasuero7489]

Yes!

[@grimreamer2512]

Great video Max, that was the most I've heard about alchemy, well, ever. Makes me wonder if our knowledge of organic chemistry wouldn't be as close to alchemy as we can get. You can manipulate a substances' properties to get a desired outcome by reacting various material with elements and reagents together to alter the bond that holds them together.

[@WildAlchemicalSpirit]

Our modern chemistry branched directly from alchemy.

[@Broken_Max]

Alchemy is the ancient, old-age form of Chemistry, but more on the philosophical, spiritual side than science.

[@neuraaquaria]

Modern chem is alchemy without the philosophical ideas of soul and universal creation

[@andrewthomasprism9388]

Apparently the whole "Turning Lead into Gold" thing is actually possible, but so inefficient that it doesn't seem worth it. You need a Particle Accelerator to do it, but it takes a ton of energy for what is an incredibly small amount. And on top of that, the extra electrons cause it to be very radioactive for a time, so the whole thing seems inefficient. I do have to wonder though: Did Alchemists really have a way to do this shit? Or was it just a fantasy they had as early scientists, and us finding a way to do it with modern tech was just sheer coincidence?

[@absolstoryoffiction6615]

There are logical theories about Alchemy of the old era... ... I could redesign the Philosopher's Stone. It was a normal tool for the Precursors of Worlds. But that Data is lost from me. Without the Lost Data, it cannot be reconstructed... But maybe nothing is real. Why even keep the memories? (The Philosopher's Stone isn't the only tool that was created by the Precursors. And the Makers are second to them. Since Makers oversee the Gods, if Gods still exist that is... ... ... None of this is real. It's all Lost Data, anyways.)

[@abbc5156]

@@absolstoryoffiction6615 wow, where did you get all that info from?

[@joseortega3257]

Something I found fascinating about that concept of a cursed treasure, since the gold is radioactive anyone that gets hold of it would eventually die.

[@zraal3759]

I have not read about an instance if lead being turned into gold using this method. Though, a specific isotope of mercury has been turned into gold with this method. It is theorized that other elements could be used for gold, but so far only the mercury isotope has been used. Have a source on lead being used?

[@JessicaMorgani]

There is no coincidence here, they did understand (or guess) correctly that everything is made of the same pieces. So the idea of rearranging them to make a different metal as long as you pay the price is very much knowledge that they had.

[@jamesmchale4903]

Fun fact for Salamander part at 6:36, there is a Japanese Fire Bellied Newt, and the salamander on Colonel Mustangs glove may be a nod to it.

[@kirotama793]

Man I'm so happy to see you covering FMA... It's literally my favorite and shaped me as a kid. Thank you so much for covering this man

[@Kennyselman]

Yeah, it just points out just how much incredible research went into creating the show...man, 12 years after its over, and we keep learned more about it.

[@fakename7901]

There isn't a word yet to describe how grateful I am for this video Max

[@ichaukan]

The first time I ever encountered alchemy in a video game was probably one of the King's Quest games. I don't recall it being explicitly referred to as alchemy, but one of the puzzles involved something like gathering a few ingredients and combining them into a teapot which you then have to bring to a boil to summon a thunderstorm. Another one I remember is Secret of Evermore on the SNES, where the game's actual magic system is alchemy where instead of MP you have a whole library of different ingredients that you combine to cast specific spells.

[@thetalantonx]

Thanks for making me geek out over FMA:B again. Solid video and good insights, as usual.

[@Brightandheavy]

My good sir, I am so grateful to find someone else out there who shares this kind of interest and makes such quality content for others. This is very inspiring stuff. May all beings understand the causes of true happiness and be willing and able to act on them!

[@josedorsaith5261]

'Alchemy isn't scientifically sound' That's the fascinating part, Max. Alchemy is the father of our current scientific method. Alchemists were some of the first to begin writing their methods down on paper, so that students and other Alchemists could recreate their experiments. The development of the Alchemical method is why we have Chemistry, Biology and Physics today

[@rockjianrock]

This begs the question of epistemology and methodology in alchemical investigation. In mainstream science we have experimentalism, Popperian falsificationism and peer reviewed publishing as a standard of what counts as knowledge.

[@crisgon9552]

Alchemy isn't "scientifically sound" so it isn't useful in the same as science. Science works, that is it's epistemology/justification. Alchemy is a good historical foot note as it helped lead to scientific method.

[@jackooooooooo]

@@crisgon9552 I would argue you can't really say alchemy is more useful than science, because it quite literally is a branch of 'science', as he said. And that branch spread out into physics, biology and chemistry.

[@crisgon9552]

@@jackooooooooo I am not making the argument that alchemy is more useful than science. I apologize if it appears so

[@jackooooooooo]

@@crisgon9552 Im not either, im saying your point isnt valid because alchemy is technically apart of science. Its like saying physics is better than science.

[@Brandon_Moves_You]

Your videos hit different! So glad you're back at it Max! Absolutely love your lectures. I'd call it content, but it always feels more like a riveting lecture when you brief a topic. Shout out to the NGE tie in!

[@NeonIcyWings]

Now this is super cool. It's neat to see the real life alchemical ideas being used in a show that threw the word alchemy around so much. And here I thought it was all mostly showy! Can't wait for me my dude!

[@kirill2525]

alchemy never had anything to do with transmuting metals. it was a metaphor for the soul. its a spiritual practice. heres more info on it kzbin.info/www/bejne/ioOUkHqug8eFhJo

[@davytyler]

Awesome video. It is pretty uncommon to strike a level-headed conversation regarding a classical philosophy like alchemy, and a modern media like anime. I think that your discussion was excellent and I look forward to the next one.

[@ribbon_nucleotide]

This video is so cool, I've been reading about Paracelsian alchemy but only on a surface level. Your video has inspired me to read more about it!

[@Shamax0]

Looking forward to more, glad you liked the anime, I've watched both brotherhood and the regular fma 3 times already over the years since each came out respectively, and it's probably time I watch them again soon Either way, here's to more videos, cheers!

[@CatsRul85]

Almost makes me wonder how much more could potentially be found in the Manga itself that didn't make it in the anime. Also highly recommend the ovas (especially the one called the Blind Alchemist)

[@opinionpaladin6007]

I met an aspiring Alchemist in college. He was trying to get a degree based on the subtle vibration everything gives off. trying to recreate vibrations of other things into tinxtures .

[@ItsVab]

Do you know what happened with him?

[@anguishedcarpet]

@@ItsVab nothing, because that was pseudoscience

[@eduuklee9453]

@@anguishedcarpet science is incredible arrogant and intolerant towards fiction, religion and fantasy. even if fantasy gave birth to all of their theories. Its allmost like hating your father based on the fact that you are smarter than him lol

[@HOLDENPOPE]

@@anguishedcarpet but alchemy exists in science, it's called chemistry obviously the CERN Hadron Collider doesn't dabble in the sun being eaten by a lion

[@mastegoh7139]

@@eduuklee9453 we don't put led into gas anymore for the same reason pseudoscience isn't a part of science anymore

[@rupertkhan2]

Man you earned my like. Excellent content and very interesting

[@jabqur]

Just before seing this video I ended rebinging FMA Brotherhood for the second time...and it's always feels like the first time with a little bit more understanding and learning.... thx for the video friend really appreciate

[@dasuero7489]

I got chills on my shoulder area and numbness in my hand towards the hand. Holy! Fantastic job with the patterns and connections to each alchemical concept and its relation to Truth. I did not know of the Light of Nature, so thanks. 15:29 and 15:53 is hoohn *got me sweating and thinking*

[@EphemeralPseudonym]

Are you having a heart attack

[@dasuero7489]

@@EphemeralPseudonym something like that but not an actual full-blown heart attack.

[@EphemeralPseudonym]

@@dasuero7489 It's still a heart attack even if it's mild/doesn't lead to cardiac arrest. Might wanna get a CMP and lipid panel done

[@dasuero7489]

@@EphemeralPseudonym yeah probably. thanks for that. will do!

[@EphemeralPseudonym]

@@dasuero7489 if you have high cholesterol or other risk factors in your blood panels your doctor will probably recommend an ECG, and if they don't, ask for one Edit: I'm not a medical professional btw which is why you have to go to your doctor first

[@Visigoth_]

16:02 thats the best hook+refrence I've ever herd a KZbinr use 🤣👍 good job.

[@kuroblakka]

This is the first time I've ever seen this channel and I loved it. I love it when people are passionate about a culture even though they don't believe it. (Because I also do that lol. I essentially created my own religion in which the god is my cat, Şira.)

[@RenyxGhoul]

Knowledge is out there to be sought for and if we only choose to stick to what we know, we would never grow so I think it is important to suspend your disbelief when encountering things if your aim is to learn more about it. That is what I think at least. I too have been apprehensive about religion even though I have slowly accepted and embraced the idea of spirits although I am very much atheist. I think star, card reading and crystals are all very exciting things even if it was causation statement and I very much subscribe to the butterfly effect.

[@Travizzizzle]

excellent work brudda, got mustangs glove on the back of my hand

[@otoryuthesounddragon7089]

I got all that and its a little mind numbing. I also learned Sephiroth means a link to a vessel, which made me realize that Sephiroth, character from FFVII is named as such because he sees himself as the bridge to the promise land, such is the name of one of his attacks. Now he's seeming over the top final form at the end of the game actually makes sense.

[@leonoliveira8652]

This made me think a bunch of stuff about my own tale can have alchemy hidden tones, and I ended up writing more about a tale that is better left forgotten after all these years.

[@NomdePlume337]

Next episode: A Dragon Analyzes House of The Dragon

[@rengmi4804]

"I am an alchemist" "ok no not really, I just read a bunch of alchemy books" Great, awesome even.

[@WatchThatKilcam15]

this is by far the coolest channel ive found on youtube in a while

[@throne1565]

Just wanted to say - and I'm not even finished watching this video - thank you. I've felt so out of place for a very long time because I though I don't fit in. Everyone thinks and acts in ways that are so similar to one another that they can form groups and relate to one another. I never had that. Through you I discovered many similarities between how I perceive and make sense of my surroundings and alchemical principles. Maybe it's a dud. Maybe I'm just oversimplifying things. But still, thank you.

[@TheBeird]

Interesting. I liked Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood quite a lot. It's the one I watched first, then out of curiosity, I checked out the original adaptation proceeding it. Which I also liked, tho you can tell when they ran out of source material. Went in a completely different direction, but it's fun to compare and contrast

[@cursedvanity]

excellent video! im glad to hear that the esoteric concepts in FMA are that well researched. a lot of japanese media references western mysticism for the 'cool' factor as you mentioned, and i thank you for parsing that and the true homage to it. looking forward to going thru the archives and watching your EVA videos!

[@RedSkyYT64]

As a fellow alchemist, this was a fascinating new look into one of my favourite anime; thank you for this.

[@loganleatherman7647]

As a fellow bullshit artist I appreciate this comment

[@ryverloire]

You gained yourself a follower by going in depth on my favorite anime/manga without downplaying or mocking it. Also for putting into words and video research I've found myself (but could never put into a cohesive thought)

[@marcelhoermann8213]

In Magick we call the Astrum, The Promordial Man: the Great Work, the Union with one's Angel (Adonai, HGA) who then teasches you to reach the Abyss, Chesed YHWH, the veil above which lies the "true universe" (three supernals).

[@zianawind2970]

I Really Hope you Read this! I’ve followed your channel for a while and I’m always gladly surprised by your content and appreciation of topics. As I watch this your reference to the Lion eating a Red sun immediately made me think of “The Red Lion” hence I absolutely had to ask you, Have you ever read the book The Red Lion by Maria Szepes? It’s a true Masterpiece about alchemy you absolutely need to read it if you haven’t you just can’t not read it.. if you have read it I wonder if you’d be willing to make even a short video about it.. it’s one of the few books which “document” a persons initiation through the inner alchemical process. I hope you read this and have time to give me even a short reply. I appreciate your work

[@justas423]

Fullmetal Alchemist and Avatar The Last Airbender are two of the greatest works of modern fiction.

[@ciabox284k]

not atla

[@GusCraft460]

Well, technically transmutation of one chemical element into another is possible, and we have done it. We just call it nuclear fission and fusion instead of transmutation. Also, the alkahest turned out to just be water, and it’s very slow. The philosopher’s stone was never a goal of informed scholarly alchemists. The philosopher’s stone is just a placeholder for a missing ingredient that would allow for the transmutation of gold. We now know that such an ingredient doesn’t really exist because transmutation is more complicated than just mixing ingredients together.

[@jimpickens6632]

Holy Iliaster this Video is so much more as i expected you did an awesome job

[@bakicci]

love the video, i know this videos a year old so things prolly changed but, the beginning of your sentences are way louder than the end so its very clear everytime you do a new take rather than sounding like a story. it sounds like📉📉📉 look forward to other stuff :D

[@chainsawz5618]

this is the equivalent of "i read some NASA papers so now i'm an astronaut"

[@6MoonQueen9]

Oh, could you cover Al and Roy’s Gates of Truth as well? I would love to see a comparison between the three different Gates that we are shown in FMA:B and the meaning that each holds to the specific person that they are apart of. I notice that Roy’s is a lot different compared to Ed and Al’s, so I was curious about what meaning each may hold.

[@ofiterpunte]

Every time I see clips from Brotherhood, I'm reminded about how much darker and personal the original series was. There is one scene, mirrored in Brotherhood, in which a girl hides inside Alphonse and is killed. It kind'of goes by unnoticed, while in the original it's a shattering moment for Alphonse (and the viewer). Don't get me wrong, I loved how they ended Brotherhood, probably the most heart warming ending of any anime I've seen, but I doubt it would've been as emotional if I hadn't watched the original series first. I am mentioning this because I wonder if there isn't some philosophical secret hiding behind the juxtaposition of the two series.

[@zzasserzz]

Your content is so inspiring and high quality. Thank you so much ❤

[@TristianWatson]

we are not the 3 but the 0, the shapeless and formless space before realizing itself. we are no-thing and all things at once

[@migueldoesstuff6994]

Who here from that one tweet

[@Nono-zz8xz]

“hey what do you mean an actual alchemist”

[@annellanaya5041]

Idk how much you know about the Jewish kabala or the hebrew language but, as someone who learned about this stuff in school i can tell you that "adam kadmon" wasn't his name.... "Adam kadmon" is just hewbrew for "ancient human"... When they talk about "adam kadmon" in the kabala they're talking about the first person that came to be

[@mayanboricua]

....Correct. He covers this in the video. Adam Kadmon translates into the Primordial Man.

[@alveolate]

my one unanswered interest in FMA/B is whether those intricate alchemical circles they draw have any real meaning... i always lamented that they didn't imbue more lorebabble into those inscriptions, since they really draw attention and look pretty damn cool to boot. do you know if they meant anything?

[@prinstyrio0]

I've always been curious as well, always got me intrigued.

[@moch.farisdzulfiqar6123]

The circle and the sigil might have a meaning/symbolism. But the rest seem like purely decorative.

[@SHINOBISHINJI]

apreciate this been dabbling in alchemy since 2012 nice that u take the general concepts and laid it out bare for the masses something wish i could articulate better myself but i cant so thank you for your hard work in bringin some more dept and understanding to works of art that have often been misunderstood but alludes to some dept of being that not everyone discovers

[@ranma-sama6920]

this is such a precise, accurate and meticulous analysis of fma, thank you so much for sharing it with us.

[@deadseveredheads]

Those who truly study alchemy transmute their mind. It is, and will continue to be attainable and achievable. This was always beyond the grasp of those with iron pyrite in their hearts and intentions. If these words offend or make you uncomfortable, it says more about you than I.

[@dragonix8527]

"How to make poetry sound pretentious 101".

[@deadseveredheads]

@@dragonix8527 Not sure I follow. I sound pretentious?

[@HOLDENPOPE]

@@deadseveredheads I think he thinks that you sound like you think alchemy is a better path than science, religion, etc.

[@deadseveredheads]

@@HOLDENPOPE that makes sense. Thanks for the insight. @Dragonix I would pick science over Alchemy every time in a real-world context. I think that science can explain all, including Alchemy. That being said, I was speaking in metaphor. Hope that clears it up; I wasn’t trying to offend or inconvenience. Good luck and good health to you.

[@johnnymcgeez5647]

Actually, philosopher's stone is real and it can be made in real life. I will now explain the whole process for your education, but dont attemp this at home. So, how to make one? Well its not an easy task and its really painful. Its said that people who go trough that process often scream and tear their bed sheets apart from pain. Now on to the process: You first must learn about the world and delve into deep mysteries of the universe. You must train your mind to think every moment and you must analyze meaning behind each rock and each drop of water. You need to absorb all knowlegde that you came across and become so wise that you can transmute knowledge on your own and deep understandings will come within you.... There is only one ingredient that you will need and you will need huge quantities of it. Its water that has very high mineral content... This is where the painful part comes in play. Ok, so now that you have become a philosopher yourself, you need to drink huge amounts of that mineral water untill you form a stone in your kidney. After stone is formed then you need to expell it and there you go, now you have philosopher's stone. Well guys, i hope you learned something today from papa Johnny McGeez, and good luck.

[@-zerxvil-5208]

Albus Wulfric Percival Brian Dumbledore: Hold my Butter Beer

[@darthkrevan710]

Got to say love the details you got into. Most I knew back in high school but I am a Nerd and science is fun.. The most I did not know was the deeper history. Any ways peace...

[@chaosgilleon6433]

This video has been suggested to me and pushed by KZbin to me, for 3 weeks. And only after watching it do I realize I was a fool for not watching this 3 weeks ago. Amazing, a well earned like and sub.

[@percyjacksonkidd]

It's incredible to see just how pervasive the ideologies of Paracelcus and alchemy in general are within many of the most popular animes. Between NGE, FMA & FMAB, and even Black Clover. So cool to draw those connections all back to a common source and see them portrayed in such different ways.

[@danjoshi]

This video is so good! I'm glad you're making a series.

[@Dappis]

One of my favorite shounen tropes is just taking a concept, doing research into it, and just knowing when to keep in what's accurate and when to make shit cool.

[@mikankitsune0440]

Alchemy and historical practices of magic absolutely fascinate me. I use it in my own writings, I've read so man books and articles over the years it's honestly wild. FMA is genuinely a masterpiece in so many ways.

[@jimenez2403]

Congrats...2 and half minutes in and you got me...I subbed and patiently waiting for your new videos lol and I'm not even a mega fan of FMA but I have interest in lore and mythology and historical processes like alchemy and you made it even more interesting by demystifying it while also adding the fact that alchemy does add life enrichment.... I'm interested 🤔

[@ZorDonofDoom]

I have literally been waiting for a video like this! So happy I found your channel! Keep it up!

[@jahoffm1]

Using Xenogears music was a great choice for this video. I love it.

[@01VASB]

Amazing!!! I can´t hardly wait for more videos like that!!

[@auraispresent7773]

I was subscribed b4 but now I’m immersed. Anime been dropping gems.

[@luzion5719]

That's so interesting about the salamanders! I had personally thought it was because salamanders live primarily in very cool water(atleast here in the Appalachian range which is the Meca of these little guys)and that made me think the folks of old understood metabolism or inner fire from Prana and chi. The burning up of an almost inexhaustible life force or some mastery over it in the creature.

[@stardemy]

Great video!!! Im a huge fan of fma and I didn’t know most of the things! oh btw When you a show picture of Hiromu Arakawa, thats actually Park Romi(Edwards voice actress). I’ve never found a single picture of Arakawa in the internet, she portraits herself as a funny cow in her mangas 😉

[@KuroiYuki88]

That's what I thought 😂 I was like, huh isn't that Park Romi😂

[@Plus_Escapee]

You want to have a look at two specific video games; Armored Core 6, which expressly reference alchemical coral, and Noita, a game that is basically "Alchemy; The Game." Also, there is an obvious correlation with the classic names of gold and silver; aurum, and argentum, with the former suggesting a glow like a soul, and the latter suggestive of clearness like a healthy mind. I'm sure you already knew this. This is obviously not a coincidence, as these precious metals, have had superstition closely tied to them in ancient cultures.

[@Cheonging101]

Hello, fellow Seeker. This old geezer would like to answer some of the issues you brought up with the terms used in the Art (yes, it's not science). 0:37 The reason why it's "poetic", especially when it's filled with beautiful and wondrous wood-carved illustration, is that alchemists always speak in codes and hide in symbols. During the renaissance, when alchemy was at its peak, literacy is no longer the high barrier it used to be and such high philosophies could be laid bare to the common folk. This causes 2 problems. 1st, harm to the fabric of society, as closely guarded secrets becoming widely known would flip the Pareto Principle upside down. 2nd, harm to self, because it's one thing to cause anarchy and another to be hunted down as a warlock. As for it not being scientific, I wouldn't call it that. For one thing, it birthed several actual branches of science that are being studied and specialized by folks nowadays; metallurgy, chemistry, biology... alchemy in its current form is more of a celebration to the bold discoveries by man trying to understand God. 2:15 I shall look forward to how you would boil all those down. I mean, I don't enjoy seeing people squirm but it's a good thing that it's a video and you don't have to smack your forehead when your apprentice(s) just look blankly at you after your explanation, waiting for you to expunge every interlocked principle all the way back to the basics that you already taught them 3 years ago! 5:11 Here's why alchemy isn't "consistent"... because it wasn't written by one person. Yes, most of us can trace our roots all the way back to the father of alchemy and even get our hands on alchemical texts in some libraries that are masked as common reads written by notable alchemists under their pseudonyms. But there was no internet back then and discoveries made by Jack in Liverpool could also be made by Jean in Cologne 2 weeks later. When both of them write their own publications, they would have to come up with a new name/code/symbol independently albeit for the same exact discovery. So, when one is able to read both the books written by Jack and Jean, one either gets confused or try to read the underlying principles to identify if they are the same thing. That is how you get to the point of multiple names for the same thing. 7:12 Nymphs and Pygmies? We call them Undines and Gnomes back in the day. Or the Latin version if we were feeling really uppity. 7:37 Macro-Micro Analogy can still be applied even to this day. When one looks at a solar system and then look at an atom, you can notice that the nucleus, proton, electrons, can be correlated to the sun, planets and satellites. It is like we hold galaxies within us... or are we just standing on an electron within an atom that makes up another living being? 10:00 There is a general consensus amongst the God-fearing branches of our studies that the Kabbalah itself is the first alchemical texts ever written and, since it stems from the Torah, it makes alchemy a knowledge that is given by God Himself, thus, we alchemists aren't going to Hell after all! Jokes aside, why I brought that up is that there are indeed many parallels written in the Old Testament with academia alchemica; God is Everywhere versus God is in Everything. Both mean very different things yet results in the same, again a very important alchemical principle itself and also an extremely common recurring phenomenon. 12:42 I'd probably inject a mention of Alkahest here being the antithesis of the Stone but... maybe you can do that in future videos. Maybe when you talk about Scar? But I'm undecided if he's an individual capable of calling up the Solvent or is that arm just starting up the alchemical process but could go no further than the stage of nigredo (wonder if this is a bad word nowadays). 13:35 Oh, didn't know you would be talking it about the Kabbalah here. Still, proves my point earlier even more eh? This old fogey don't know much about other animes or games, just watched this particular one on Netflix because of the word "Alchemist" and reminded me of my own studies. The author looks like she did a lot of research or even a fellow Seeker like us.

[@kelvin9875]

my love for this show grew a lot after I became a hermeticist and rewatched it. I'm happy I've just found this channel

[@CedroLinkin]

funny that youtube suggested me this video right after i got an ouroboros tattoo. i mean, it's funny unless you find it scary, equally valid