Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood: Father and the Homonculi

[@savagebooks7482]

Sorry that this came out later than usual (and that the audio is a tad weird too)... But anyway, I hope you all enjoy! I'm curious, who have been your favorite antagonists in fiction?

[@HxH2011DRA]

Meruem from Hunter x Hunter

[@oscarc8024]

L from death note

[@TheBigE9999]

the lich from adventure time

[@omeryolo]

Johann liebert from Monster, Griffith. From berserk and Shogo Makishima from psycho pass

[@ThrottleKitty]

Father is my favorite antagonist ^_^

[@austinpoor5217]

I always figured the answer to "How does the philosopher's stone circumvent the laws of alchemy?" was rather plainly, it doesn't. The stone itself is simply the densest collection of valuable material for exchange possible. The law being defied is not equivalent exchange but instead conservation of matter, as the stone exchanges metaphysical energy for physical matter.

[@Nanook128]

Yeah, his reading of the text is negativity impacted by not understanding that basic fact.

[@kennethsatria6607]

@@Nanook128 Though I think the concept of science religion and philosophy coming to conflict and merging he talks about still works, though the stone is technically within science the concept of truth and then personal value Ed changes in himself still works

[@ctrain149]

The laws were never broken to begin with, correct. It was realizing that human souls, in a twisted sort of way, had some real world value. It becomes something near non-understandable when you realize that it's exchanging human souls for swords, healing broken bones and stopping other alchemic reactions. In a way, the ethic becomes more that "Human souls are most valuable when given a proper life to live" which ultimately becomes Father's un-doing. He merely thought in terms of energy and power. He never thought in terms of life.

[@yeahkeen2905]

Is that how you interpreted it? I always thought that the reason why philosopher stones could break the laws of alchemy was because they were made up of human souls. A human soul is priceless and there can be no assigned value to them which is one of the themes of the show, how can the law of equivalent exchange apply to that. When nothing is equivalent to a human soul you can exchange a human soul for anything. That’s the answer I came up with and like Savagebooks said, it’s philosophical in nature.

[@yeahkeen2905]

Nanook128 it’s not really a fact, just his interpretation.

[@KevinReijnders93]

Wow, an actual photo of Hiromu Arakawa, and not a scribble of a cow with glasses

[@assgoblin3981]

???

[@RollingScone]

@AssGoblin arakawa is notorious for not having any pictures of herself and is generally represented by an author avatar of a cow on hind legs and glasses. She’s intensely private, going so far as having Ed’s voice actress do press releases/events for her, so it’s funny seeing an actual photo of her for once

[@assgoblin3981]

RollingScone oh lol I thought it was like a social statement or something xd

[@hayden1351]

@@RollingScone That's funny you say that bc that picture isn't of Arakawa, it's of Ed's voice actress. There are no known pictures of Arakawa on the internet.

[@RollingScone]

Morgan Jordans hah! I didn’t even realize that! Well that’s good to know then 😂

[@courtneylovett8307]

I've always loved the quote: "Whenever he does alchemy, his hands look like he's praying." Such an interesting aspect that seems to contrast with Ed's initial pragmatist characterization as shown in ep 3

[@ShadowQrow]

And that's only after meeting god that he can perform alchemy by "praying".

[@kiapet286]

I'd go farther and say that Father represents the religion of science or alchemy- reducing souls to their value in alchemy, making himself a god by gaining power through alchemy, ect. He's the logical conclusion of Ed saying that alchemists have the power to understand everything and are like gods. This leads Ed to reject his views of the power of alchemy and, as you said, attain a more philosophical stance on the worth of a human life.

[@nopatiencejoe6376]

Science is not a religion.

[@artisticcannibalism1350]

@@nopatiencejoe6376 A god isn't needed for religion to exist. All that is needed is complete devotion to one thing or idea above all and it becomes your god and the single minded pursuit of it, will be your religion.

[@nopatiencejoe6376]

@@artisticcannibalism1350 That's true, religion can exist without a god. But still, science is not a religion. Science relies on rationality and does not need the primordial aspect of religion, faith. Even though science make some assumptions, those are open for testing and observation, there are no dogmas.

[@artisticcannibalism1350]

@@nopatiencejoe6376 When something goes from being a part of your identity to being your identity, it becomes your religion. The truth is that there are countless "gods," and "religions," in existance. Obession and blind devotion will turn rational thinking into an irrational love of all things objective and a denial and even hatred of the subjective.

[@nopatiencejoe6376]

@@artisticcannibalism1350 I guess so, but what you said misses the point. I get that some people may take science as obssession or even a religion, but that does not turn all science into a religion. One may threat science as a religion, but it isn't. Science is just a method, a means to an end, if one takes it differently, then that's just a corruption of what it really is.

[@lucasgallegocatalan6593]

I liked the interpretation of the history proposed by this video, but I have different interpretation and would like to propose it: I think that Father doesn't represent the opposite of Edward, but rather the beliefs of Edward pushed to its limits. Father represents what Edward thinks to be the absolute and only way to see the world (I'm talking about the Ed at the begining of the series): the proof that everything can be answered by experimental science only; as he seems to hold an empiric answer to everything that science hasn't been able to answer yet: What is a human soul? Just a definite amount of energy no different from the one burning coal emits, Who created me? Father was product of an experiment created from part of a human by an ancient alchemist; he seems to offer a mathematic and experimental answer to everything. As I see it Edward doesn't grow by being confronted with diametrically opposed entities but instead by being confronted with the worst parts of himself and his ways of thinking about the world represented in someone else (making them easier to see) and allowing him to change by not just learning from others but also from himself and his flaws. When he neglects the idea of a human soul being only energy he has to ask himself why he can't accept it, when it is the type of answer he has been looking for his entire life, he has to open his mind to a way of thinking he had neglected until then, as saying that there's more in a soul than its physical dimension makes the existence of a metaphysical element necessary. This acceptance of philosophical thinking would then lead him to be able to sacrifice his alchemy (what was at the begining the "only way to see the world") as he now sees experimental science and philosophy, not as opposite ways of learning and knowing, but as two equal and complementary parts of the whole. PD: if someone has read this thank you for your time and sorry if I made some mistakes, english is not my fist language and specially this topics have very specific terms that I may have messed up.

[@kiklulu5149]

i didn't notice anything bad abt ur english!! this is a really good idea too

[@johnsonbaroncaveler6634]

you sure do have a lot of confidence when you're passionate about something, huh? Keep it up!

[@royybarra6160]

I’m not gonna lie I think I like this idea better, but if you type this well your English is amazing

[@fabulousmyriad267]

This was a thoughtful, well expressed analysis.👍🏼 You made an allusion to the dwarf's origins(created as a lab experiment for the express purpose of serving his master's pursuit of immortality) thus forming his coldly analytical worldview, which I found to be quite tragic. In this context, one can understand the dwarf's motives in empathising with Slave 23's limitations by offering an "equivalent exchange" of Knowledge for freedom from the flask. I love the theme of irony in this series. Despite Father's boast of gaining his freedom, he still retains his old habit of remaining hidden away in his "container" underground, repeatedly refusing opportunities for personal growth in the pursuit of becoming the perfect being. In sharp contrast, Edward began his journey by pursuing illicit knowledge for his own selfish gains, and paid a heavy price for it. He too felt trapped by the limitations of his hometown, and the abandonment of his parents. Yet he was forced to take responsibility for his actions. He forced himself to get out of his "container" as a helpless paraglegic in Resembool to become the youngest state alchemist in Amestris. His arrogant, ignorant worldview gradually changes from meeting new people, cultures and cities. The dwarf was genuinely frightened & confused by his final judgement as befitting a creature that never grew from its childlike mentality. Whereas Edward was calm & collected, a nearly perfect adult *human* being backed up by life experiences & personal growth to add credence to the audacious offering of his gate.

[@TheZhenya19]

Oh this is a great view! Thank you for sharing it!

[@alexdelarco]

Incredible how this show is still relevant more than ten years after its end. Undoubtedly the greatest shonen of all time.

[@spettmedia2185]

No❤️

[@richardblevins9878]

At least top 3

[@adrithmanvik1853]

@@spettmedia2185 yeah

[@nengalish5332]

It up there with Hunter x Hunter, and Yu Yu Hakusho, Evangelion and Death Note

[@geraltzrivii4428]

@@nengalish5332 and AoT

[@KrazyStargazer]

I can't help but see Father as Alchemy taken to the extreme. While the Elric brothers have a lot to learn they always keep their humanity. Father cast aside any semblance of humanity along time ago

[@ChespinCraft]

Krazy Stargazer *he still has a lot to learn, but I believe he can save the world* AVATAR MUSIC INTENSIFIES

[@D0omC0okie]

thats why he created the 7 deadly sins. He wanted to purge himself of any humanity. Each one is a part of his humanity he cast aside.

[@KrazyStargazer]

@@D0omC0okie Yup. However, I believe Father is what the Elric brothers could have bin if they followed their alchemy to its extreme.

[@misakichan8181]

You must remember a very important fact he is not human, he is a homunculous, which means for him, humans are only the things that he can use to get what he wants, and so, he has no humanity

[@OsnosisBones]

@@misakichan8181 Except it's a constant point that's brought up in the late stages of the story that he did have a level of consciousness similar if not equal to a human's. And as was already stated, the very existence of his children is representative of his former humanity he cast aside, as each represented a 'human flaw' he despised about himself which he removed thinking it would make him equal to God. The existence of Envy, and Envy's envy of humans, shows that he didn't merely see humans as a means to an end, but rather he desperately wanted to have what they had and was in a constant battle between his interest and hatred of them. The existence of Greed also showed that deep down he wanted people to be close to, even if they were humans. It just was too small of an aspect to drive him - though he did care about Hohenheim enough to share half of the souls with him. It wasn't until many years later the slight closeness he showed toward the former slave was gone. Homunculus also means an artificial human, so the name he was called by itself places him as something trying to be human.

[@brianbrush5107]

While watching your video I realized not just how Father is a great Foil to ed. But how Father is a good Foil to the truth. Father Represents the idea of Religion being a simple answer to everything. Whereas the truth represents the idea of being religious yet still pursuing science and philosophy. Its also shown greatly by There designs. Father resembles the accepted version of God, a bearded man in light. Whereas The Truth is an almost featureless entity.

[@samuelrodriguez9801]

God has no true form.

[@TheArkhamjester]

@@samuelrodriguez9801 Thats the point the Truth is reflective of whoever gazes upon him, whatever true form he has is beyond us.

[@dancingcarapace]

The Truth is formless because in its own words (as best as I can remember): Who am I? I am the world, I am the Universe, I am God and I am Truth. But most importantly, I am also _you_

[@shosty575]

@@dancingcarapace yes

[@romano-britishmedli7407]

I love Truth as a... "character" so much!

[@nataliakoodziej2582]

FMA:B is such a rich, amazing story that I don't think we will ever run out of topics to discuss. Thank you so much for this analysis - it was both very thorough and immensely interesting.

[@robinwang6399]

I think you’ve mixed up the ideals of different people, father was the “I shall throw down god and become a perfect being”, a concept which Ed called: arrogant. If he is anything, father is the antithesis of religion and the ultimate embodiment of alchemy which Ed was seeking for the sake of fixing his mistakes.

[@kalesheonn8366]

Nice analysis. Great porn name btw.

[@The_Third_Bomb]

Father is just Kars

[@steviegilliam5685]

@@The_Third_Bomb or light yamgami or Enel or domflamingo or dio

[@christopherfleetwood5252]

Especially considering he is the “Father“ of Sin, I think he’s the FMA version of Satan; seeking to overthrow and be equal to God.

[@metal87power]

Philosopher stone has nothing to with real philosophy. Father doesn't hold opposite ideas to Ed's. His ideas are the extreme version of Ed's. Father outlook for world is purely self-centred and scientifical. He treats humans as subjects, not as people. So, in the end, Ed realizing that his friendship with other people is the most important value, he sacrifices his alchemy for his brother's body to strike a final blow on the weakened Father. Father couldn't create life unless you call Homunculi living being which I wouldn't. They are merely his clones with added his own personality traits. After obtaining "God" Father could probably briefly resurrect life that he showed to scare and psychologically crush Van Hohenheim, but he more likely stole those lives from the people of the Ancient Kingdom.

[@sontypohnenamen5161]

The "we're not so different after all" trope is old and well documented, as is its normal outcome, namely the hero outgrowing the similar mindset and shifting their mentality towards what separates them from the enemy - as seen in FMA. What defines a living being? The homunculi, while definitely not humans as we know them, are functionally independent beings (as shown early by Greed rebelling against Father, but later on also in other homunculi not directly acting against him, but partially against his ideals and orders). Father did not create them out of thin air, he had to use resources (e.g. the philosopher's stone), but it was him who shaped them *in his image* (another religious simile), by his will, to do as he tells them - answering the big questions about life as posed in the video. He didn't create humans, he created what humans could be if he were god, just on a smaller scale. He created transhumans, impervious to age, sickness and small damaging factors.

[@Crimsonraziel]

Which characteristic of life were the Homunculi lacking?

[@scifinerd17]

Crimsonraziel mortality, growing old and dying just like everyone else. They can’t grow old and die naturally because they’re immortal.

[@Crimsonraziel]

@@scifinerd17 - They were mortal, proven by the fact that every single one of them died over the course of the series. They were kept alive by their small philosopher stones which get's ever so slowly depleted by that. Or even faster when the use it to regenerate themselves and other stuff. - Growing old is not a characteristic of life, there are even a couple of lifeforms on Earth that don't age or just stop aging at a certain point.

[@dig8634]

@@scifinerd17 There is no proof that bacteria have morality, not even ants or more significant creatures. Morality could just be a creation of consciousness, which is a result of chemical processes. Aging is definitely not a criteria for life, as several different lifeforms are literally immortal if nothing external kills them. I know there is a jellyfish that doesn't age. Dying is a better criteria, but it isn't actually one scientifically speaking. The jellyfish doesn't die unless something kills it, so would it stop being life if circumstances made an endless life possible? Not really, right? And since the heat death of the universe will eventually happen anyways, all things will die. And even if we accept that, they all could die. And they even could die from "natural" causes, since their source of life would eventually run out, even if they weren't killed. Just by living life, they could die unless they actively prevented it. The definition of life is actually undecided, but having cell structure, experiencing metabolism, maintaining homeostasis and a bunch of other organism processes. Once we are capable of creating artificial intelligence, I am fairly confident they will quickly be considered alive too.

[@honey3762]

When it came to brotherhood, I always thought the main question is: what's the point of existence? The protagonist and the antagonist both have their own answers but God literally tells Edward that he is right

[@matthewogden2747]

I always thought the question was directly stated in the text 'What is equal to the value of a human soul'. In other words, how do you define a human life. It is that question that Father gets dramatically wrong. Father believes that to be human is to be perfect and cuts himself off from all vices and defects without fully realising that it is those defects that make people human.

[@scrotiemcb5858]

I didn't think of the Being by the Gate as God in the conventional sense. It does not have the power to do much except talk and exist there. This doesn't make it a anthropomorphism for weakness - it has no need or demand to do anything. As such, I thought of it not as God, but as Truth, or perhaps as Omnipotence. I also don't see the main question of the story as being "what is the point of existence?" but instead "what is the proper relationship between man and knowledge?" Father's answer was that more was always better, even if that meant leaving behind one's original form; this was judged by Truth to be incorrect. Ed's answer was that, as a human animal with human needs, there was a limit beyond which more knowledge was not necessary; this was judged by Truth to be correct.

[@Gadget-Walkmen]

Truth isn't a "god" or a "deity" as we're not 100% sure what it really is but a reflection. It's just a reflection of someone's inner self of what THEY believe the "truth" to be so it can be god, universe, or the world depending on the person and why truth always mirrors the individual's shape.

[@liaml.e.5964]

I differ in only one aspect... the best villains do not want the oposite of what the protagonist wants, it wants the same, but choosing a path that conflicts with the views of the protagonist. That way is more of a race against each other, rather than a mere hindrance.

[@Exile_Sky]

What is really interesting is that the way the Philosopher's Stone actually works could easily be explained. It is fueled by the potential energy those humans would have generated in the world. That's why you can't use animals or plants, they simply don't have the same amount of agency as people. That's also why you have to use large quantities of people to get larger and larger effects. A handful of people can only have so much effect on the world. This is also why "flawed" stones could break or why the stones had limits at all. Humanity is a powerful engine of change. We just can't accomplish everything. P.S. I feel that's why father ultimately failed in the end. Not strictly because of the Elrics, but because humans are flawed and so was he. He just refused to recognize his own failings as a child of humanity.

[@mzytryck]

Thank you for this. This resolves a line in Ed's final fight with Father that always bothered me. Ed calls him a "novice", despite Father having repeatedly shown himself to be a vastly more powerful, skilled and experienced alchemist than Ed. At first I thought that this was a simple call-back to the Ed's fights at the start of the series, and was just Ed making a badass boast. However, recasting their conflict as science, religion and philosophy explains that line perfectly, as their final confrontation takes place after Father's attempt at godhood has been beaten by Ed and Hohenheim's greater understanding of the scientific flaws in Father's methods and their philosophical embrace of their connections with those around them (and, in Hohenheim's case, inside him). The terrain they're now fighting on is one in which Father is a genuine novice compared to Ed, a symbolic position demonstrated visually by Father clumsily flailing around while Ed beats the living snot out of him.

[@samuelrodriguez9801]

I personally think Father has extreme belief in cold logic and a stagnant scientific mind-set, while doubling as a religious allegory, complete with zealous followers.

[@ChBrahm]

Villains are brilliantly written in FMA (& FMAB) Tucker a man obssesed with alchemy who also believes he can do whatever he wishes with that power with no regard for the consequences is a contrast to both Ed´s beliefs and actions. They both tried to play god (Ed when trying to bring back his mother and Tucker... well we don´t talk about that) but Tucker says it himself, that they are one in the same. This shakes Ed to his core because he knows it´s true and only makes him angrier at his lack of ability to find answers specially because he knows Al is walking on a tin can because of him. It´s all his fault and Tucker breaks him a little. Scar is also great as he sees himself as both blessed and cursed by his own god and believes in his own self righteous path to wipe out al state alchemists to avenge the genocide of his people. He is also playing god with the lives of others . And the way he does it is actually congruent with the first law of alchemy. Equivalent exchange. So he will take as many lives as were taken from his people.

[@zookeeps1340]

Fight me but I like the homunculi in FMA better like when Sloth dies it actually feels sad also her entire existence was the elric brothers fault if they hadn't tried to resurrect their mom Sloth would have been created and they would have most likely never went on their journey, also Lust how she changes sides because she ultimately knows that Dante wont do anything for them, also personally I like Dante as a villain over The other dude

[@ChBrahm]

@@zookeeps1340 Me too. I personally enjoyed more the OG series over brotherhood. The homunculi being the result of botched human transmutation adds more to them as characters and to the interactions with others because of that . Also FMA is a little bit more mature in its themes. The moment they get back to Lior after the war hits COMPLETELY different in FMA than it does in brotherhood. When Ed finds out Rose got pregnant (from a soldier that raped her) it fucking wrecked him, but in britherhood the guy from the small kiosk just says that the war was good for the people? like wtf....

[@Gadget-Walkmen]

@@zookeeps1340 LMAO hell no. Preferring the Homunculi is your opinion but the homouncli differing is just another different take on them because FMA 03 tried to vastly change the rules of alchemy by altering where it comes from. That's just a different take. Sloth's character in 03 is good in order to highlight another failure of human transmutation and so was Lust's b But they were just two who got any arguably "positives" in character but the rest of the Homouncli were the same and even made worse overall like bradley so saying they were made better as a whole is just nonsense and wrong to say. Fma 03 is solid and good but objectively not as coherently sound compared to the original story at all especially when you people make bad claims/statements in favor it like this. And you liking dante "oVEr tHE OtHE DuDe" is proof you don't understand anything about Father as a villain because they don't even compare as Father is the perfect foil in the series which is about science and a great villain antagonist for Ed as he's a cracked mirror of all of Ed's views. Father represents the religion of science or alchemy- reducing souls to their value in alchemy, making himself a god by gaining power through alchemy, ect. He's the logical conclusion of Ed saying that alchemists have the power to understand everything and are like gods and along side being a solid hypocritical lively villain character on his own right. This is VASTLY better than Dante who got a ridiculously bad anti-climatic of getting eaten by glutton off screen and never mentioned again after she failed to get her new body from Rose just because she couldn't get over her love for a guy who dumped her and she cougar after his son. You can prefer whoever "personally" but when you look at them critically and objectively there's more added nuanced and thematic reliance to one character over the other to the overall story especially since Dante gets forgotten badly later on in the movie and last few episodes.

[@Gadget-Walkmen]

@@ChBrahm Again you people are spewing nonsense when you say stuff like this. Preferring one over the other is you're opinion but one is clearly is better The FMA 03 is good but the way you people say things makes thing WORSE than they really are for yourself as your statements are just horrid to see. The homunculi being botched human transmutations hardly changes does NOT add more character to them and the interactions o others because of that at all, or rather not so much to the point where you think it is. That "Adds to them as characters and they're interactions" only happens to three characters out of the seven: Sloth obviously benefits the most out of it, Lust is solid and a pretty ok take on the character, Wrath (the weaker version) is alright but VASTLY inferior as a character to bradley being wrath and massively wrecking bradley being wrath aspect to the character incredibly so. And FMA 03 is NOT "a little bit more mature in it's themes" from Brotherhood at ALL. Not even close, it's just DARKER than the original and being darker doesn't mean it's good, it just means it's trying to be cynical in it's story. Look at the stuff that Zack Synder makes and it's supposed to be "dark" but it's not at all "mature" at all nor even good but the execution is massively off. Lior getting devastated badly in the 03 anime is just a different take towards events because they're both valid takes on what happens in war as well as Rose getting raped and Ed feeling bad about it because they wanted to take a cynical take on events but that doesn't mean it's good nor does that event have much barely to the overall story as it gets ignored later on as Ed focuses on Dante situation and forgets lior (except for rose) entirely as it's not brought up again or for his character. Stopping a conman whose lying and manipulating a ton of people who were preparing to got to war to rule a country does NOT mean that everything is going to go to hell and be destructive either just because he was stopped. That's just nonsense and idiotic to say and a moronically cynical way to look at the world and things. Stopping one evil doesn't make more evil flourish in every situation. That's a crap and stupidly edgy mindset to have. The little bar keeper guy in the Kiosk in the original story/brotherhood NEVER said that "war was good for the people." You flat out just lied and made that up for your delusional little mind. He said that even tho the people in Lior have it rough bringing things back together, he was glad that the Elric brothers brought the false Prophet Cornello down hard because it's not a good thing to be living under a lie at all, which he's 100% right and correct about. Nowhere did he say "the war was good for the people". you're insane for spewing that garbage out of your mouth and that "wtf" is just you whining over nothing. People shouldn't be living under a lie and be manipulated to go to war and you would be crazy to think that Conerllo controlling the town of people so he can have his conquest war would benefit anything if not make it even WORSE than it was shown in the 03 anime. What Ed and Al did by exposing Cornello was the right thing to do regardless and especially since no matter what the town would have gotten wrecked, you preferring the darker aspect to the wrecked is your on preference, not an automatically good thing to happen. Jesus what is wrong with you people. You people LOVE getting stuff wrong and spewing nonsense because so far nothing you people are saying makes even a lick of sense at all since objectively speaking one is clearly more coherent than the other who pushed back it's main villain dante to go to a parallel world which was our own and going all over the place.

[@ChBrahm]

@@Gadget-Walkmen Just read the first couple of lines... already know you are dead wrong. not reading the rest either cheers

[@maybee613]

Thank you so much for this video ! I've recently rewatched FMAB and lots of videos about it and one of those criticised the ending of the show, saying that Ed's sacrifice to bring Al back was way too small in comparison and too easy. I was convinced otherwise but couldn't think of why exactly I thought Ed sacrificing his portal of truth was such a big deal : your video helped me put perfect words on what I felt. So, again, thanks a lot =)

[@Sunaki1000]

10:20 in some way. If Alchemy is a tool, Edward giving it up is just a creative way of using this Tool. Giving up Alchemy was his way of using Alchemy to get his Brother back.

[@kev_0608]

To me this scene had a really symbolic and hidden message

[@greeninferno1339]

I came to learn about Father, and half way through, I’ve learned a whole lot about Ed- sooooooo nice! Great way to dissect the protagonist’s character in order to dissect the antagonist

[@oldcowbb]

this is the best definition of philosophy i've seen so far

[@mooloomoo]

I was so excited to hear that you would cover fmab and you've definitely pushed past my expectations. I love how much I learn from your videos and how you've made the lessons of the show clearer, thank you for your videos, they're amazing!

[@Keiselnon]

You make a false distinction between science and philosophy. Philosophy was the first science, the first attempt at rationally understanding the world, without relying on mythology (religion). All the other sciences (yes, even mathematics and natural sciences) were born from philosophy. Alchemy is the metaphor for science and scientific search for truth, and the philosopher’s stone is literally scientific answer to all problems given material form. The whole point of the show is not demonstrate that you need philosophy, it is to show that blind devotion to either science or religion will not lead you to right answers.

[@adamhunt607]

This makes more sense. Thanks for this post

[@tylerreed2409]

While philosophy was the thinking foundation which lead to science, there is still a distinction between the two because the answers they try to answer are fundamentally different, so too with their methods. Science uses evidence to determine what is. Philosophy uses experience to determine what should be. These are fundamentally different practices, and should be considered as such.

[@masterrance]

Tyler Reed This isn’t the case as many forms of theoretical sciences wouldn’t require empirical evidence. Also most declare sciences are structured with pure math which follows modern logic, a philosophy in itself.

[@masterrance]

Egor Fomenkov Just a nitpick but math isn’t really a science but the language/structure blocks that sciences should follow. Besides that, I agree with your statement

[@tylerreed2409]

@@masterrance In what way does that make my distinction less accurate? Do they seek to use their models/mathematics to explore how people should live? Does that make any sort of philosophy actually framed around using evidence to explain the world as it is in an objective manner?

[@HxH2011DRA]

Ah this is perfect! With this I'll definitely be able to complete my critique of FMA without any problems, thank you!

[@KomodoDojo]

Scar is that foil, but he's the redeemed and goes from antagonist to protagonist by the end of the series.

[@yodakyle]

This was already my favorite show but this made me appreciate it even more

[@Poopanator1000]

Dude, this just became my personal favourite video essay on FMA. You've earned yourself my sub, and I just have to say koodos to you for doing such a good job. You're clear, concise, and your interpretation of the show is backed up by specific examples, yet they perfectly link together to help you abstract about the show by the end.

[@leonardoraele]

Damn. Now I have to watch FMA again.

[@bethshepherd9234]

I had a small caveat to point out to this since your video made me think of it - the back covers for the manga describe alchemy as "something between magic, art, and science", and I would argue that that is the middle ground that alchemy occupies. If "art" can be exchanged for "philosophy", I would say that Arakawa is trying to present alchemy *as* religion, the middle ground you presented. It comprises both the hard, scientific elements as well as the philosophical elements through The Truth and God. It also holds some historical truths in that presentation; early alchemy was an extension of the religious beliefs at the time, but also the predecessor to chemistry, a hard science.

[@Gadget-Walkmen]

Art and Philosophy are not the same thing. But that would be your interpretation of it would be just your take and not official tho. In interesting idea.

[@atljames97]

This completely added several new layers of context to my favorite story in anime. Amazing work.

[@runelt99]

But wait, the alchemical stone is actually just a soul-battery, not something that 'breaks' laws.

[@christopherfleetwood5252]

It breaks the laws of Alchemy because a soul has infinite value and thus can be exchanged (see what I did there) for anything, but only one thing per soul because apparently Voldemort doesn’t exist there. 😆

[@runelt99]

@@christopherfleetwood5252 Nah it has same value as a plant. You can get infinite value just by having a child? pff. Otherwise you would need a single life and that alchemical stone would never break. But based on the experements and that Lust eventually ran out... Yeah doubt it.

[@christopherfleetwood5252]

@@runelt99 That’s why, if you read my post, I said that the exchange is one to one, one soul per violation of equivalent exchange. That’s why Philosophers Stones are so limited.

[@runelt99]

@@christopherfleetwood5252 Am afraid I do not understand it. Like a soul = one object? That seems to fly in the soul = infinity

[@christopherfleetwood5252]

@@runelt99 as far as I understand it you can do Absolutely Anything with a philosopher’s stone (hence the souls infinite alchemical value) but the Truth Entity claims a minimum of 1 whole soul per use, so if a stone is made of 1,000 souls it can ignore the law of equivalent exchange 1,000 times before running out of power. Does this solve your confusion about my statement?

[@ctrain149]

I would say that Father and Ed are both examples of Alchemic certainty. Father just has no holds bar on how far he goes to become a "complete being" using alchemy. As Edward encounters father, the Homunculi and all the results of Father's creations he is able to contrast himself with Father effectively. He is able to observe the ethic within himself properly and separate his belief in alchemy from his ego/ from himself. This show was actually an excellent example of showing how a character can change when a highly exaggerated mirror is held up to them can help them grow.

[@thefluffyaj4119]

something i love about ed and the shows writing is how he changed. if your whole outlook on life were to be challenged and proven to be flawed, what would you do? i think the easiest thing to do what what most people, including myself, would do is just ignore it, find reasons why it is wrong even if those reasons themdelves are wrong, or stubbornly hold to your beleifs. but ed has the humility to admit he was wrong and the courage to change. this shows he truly cares about what is right and wrong, instead of using what he believes as moral high ground or self satisfaction like most people do (again, including myself, although i try my best to avoid it). fmab is by far one of the most beautiful and amazing animes or shows ive watched. it has its flaws like any show, but just the complexity of its narritive, the ideas it presents and how it shows those ideas, so many tiny details that it feels so very real despite it clearly being a fantasy world. i cant praise this show enough, its one of my favorite things ever

[@lordgeneralmilitantdeezy7550]

The homunculi are amazing especially how they relate to humans and how they died. Gluttony and Sloth show complete indifference and only wanna sate their desires. Envy’s jealously of humans. Wrath secretly enjoying living as a human even if it was fabricated because he got to make one choice in his life. Lust and pride seeing humans as resources and playthings

[@kmmmm150]

Those ending lines gave new meaning to my life lol

[@chakatRiversand]

This was posted as an early birthday present, i just now found i got. Thank you. such a magnificent analysis of the anime i hold dear to my heart... a heart made fullmetal.

[@BaoHadir]

Even better than the scene between Ed and Truth at the end of the anime is when Ed meets him at the end of the manga. Every time you see Truth in the series, he always has a giant, disturbing grin on his face, like he gets some kind of sadistic pleasure from watching people try and fail to understand 'The Truth'. But in that chapter of the manga, after Ed declared that he's always been an ordinary human and that it's fine for him to give up the power of alchemy, the Truth smiles gently at him. It actually has a ton of impact.

[@Toothpaste0000]

Bro this is an awesome analysis At every point I was like “ohhhhhhh yea that does make sense” This video and FMA itself are nothing less than genius

[@krakir3242]

This was beautiful, I love your videos, keep it up man

[@johncoffey421]

Bro THIS WAS AN ABSOLUTE BEAUTY. i used to get tears in my eyes each time i watched the last episode(the meeting with god) and for 2 years i didnt know why. Last year i understood the importance and truth behind TRUTH. I was blown away. This video articulates exactly what i felt. LOVE IT.

[@Gadget-Walkmen]

Truth isn't a "god" or a "deity" as we're not 100% sure what it really is but a reflection. It's just a reflection of someone's inner self of what THEY believe the "truth" to be so it can be god, universe, or the world depending on the person and why truth always mirrors the individual's shape.

[@Joe-mz6ez]

I never saw Father as the opposition on Eds beliefs, rather I saw him as a confirmation. Father gained his powers from the rudimentary science Alchemy of old, and through it become god, with his intricate knowledge of science and society he shaped the world from shadows by using things that are observable and measured. He used Alchemy and science to confirm the fact that Ed was right, through one mortal being became god... So he was always his foil. The end of the line of all alchemist with god like complex, and Ed himself. Maybe because to me religion is uncertain, even though I was raised a christian, but I never saw the religious overtones in Father as more of the caricature that people depict religion as. Nonetheless, I liked your analisis on it.

[@kelleh711]

This story has helped me come to terms with my own mortality. A beautiful piece of fiction.

[@tulsatrash]

Thank you for the reminder in the conclusion that as a story with a message Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood itself falls within the realm of philosophy.

[@petshop4044]

I feel like an idiot watching this and realizing I never stopped to think about any of this when watching FMA

[@lucillelacroix2735]

yooo this is such a good video, it made me think about a million different and fascinating things which is, like, the best kind of videos, thank you for this

[@cedertrees2425]

You're really missing the point of the dichotomy of Ed and Father, they both believe the same thing at least at the beginning of the series. They're not opposites, they hold the same beliefs. Everything can be explained through alchemy and alchemy can solve all problems. The difference is Ed had to learn the hard way that not everything can be solved through alchemy, in the same way that the people of Lior thought they could pray all their problems away, Ed initially believes alchemy can solve all his problems, but when he and Al try to bring back their mother they come to the realization their knowledge is insufficient. Through the course of the series Ed comes to learn of the truth of the Philosophers stone, and that is that it's not some omnipotent stone that defies the laws of physics, the truth is it's still alchemy, it's still under the laws of equivalent exchange and that he'd be expending lives to use it. "God is dead, and we have killed him" Eds goal is shattered when he learns he can't just magic his problems away again, but it's his development into finding a different way that drives him forward. Father wants freedom, freedom from the flask, freedom from the flesh, freedom from the laws of the world -- same as Ed. The thing that separates the two is that Ed values life itself whereas father only sees it as another resource to use and spend. The moral of FMA is to search for the truth, with morals. To be human, and to strive for perfection but still have things you're not willing to compromise, that's Full Metal Alchemist.

[@infinitetundra]

Greatest Anime of All Time.

[@bluebutterfly5062]

Damn that was an amazing analysis. I'm not sure religion is inbetween science and philosophy tho. I think religion is a negation of both concepts. Neglecting science and abandoning philosophy for a single answer. I see where you're getting at tho and what you mean by this. Great vid nonetheless, keep it up!

[@akasakikawasaki1890]

I think thats what it has become, an easy answer, but ideally it should be a middle ground or something that complements both aspects of life understanding methods

[@daemonspade8316]

As I replied below. Religion turned into that. Many religious individuals in the world supported scientific pursuits. The House of Wisdom in Baghdad, Hindu philosophers who paved the way for modern mathematics and science, and more. The institutionalized nature of religion and the people in power wanting to disregard reason for their own agendas are the main culprits for what religion became today. Even the very nature of alchemy that the show capitalizes on were early ventures into science using philosophy, myths, religion, and practical experiments.

[@brianbrush5107]

Please do not associate all religious people as that

[@bluebutterfly5062]

@@brianbrush5107 i don't think he means all religious ppl, but he does make a good point-- ppl with too much power tend to corrupt things. That's why a lot of crappy things are done in the name of religion--bcuz of the few greedy bastards that want to control everyone. But religious ppl are individuals, some are great ppl and some are not

[@brianbrush5107]

@@bluebutterfly5062 Fully agreed.

[@bloop863]

I know I'm very late but I just wanted to tell you that this video is perfect. It has what many anime lack. Perfect pacing, examples and analysis. You are clearly a very smart writer and understand story telling very deeply. If I ever write a book, I'd gladly pay for you to go over it and give me an analysis of it. Fantastic work!

[@WalterLiddy]

It's an interesting perspective but not one I'm sure I could endorse, and also I'm not so sure the writer in question would either. Placing religion as an amalgam of science and philosophy rather than in opposition to both of them is counter-intuitive on the face of it, as it is the only one of the three that postulates no evidence is needed to support its conclusions. In this sense it seems natural for representations of religion to be antagonistic to the hero's position.

[@rashotcake6945]

The philosophy of the ending is kind of existentialist, because it makes the point that though life has no knowable objective scientific meaning, you can give it your own meaning (such as through the friendships and connections you make.) That’s pretty beautiful

[@DaWoWzer]

-I would argue Father is just a more extreme version of Ed, he has such an unshakable belief in science he believe it can even allow him to become god simply through science, through that Ed is able to see the misguided nature of that pursuit and realizes their is more to life than science and that science it self cant be the answer to every question. Father even attempts to reach religious virtue through science believing sins are just something he could remove and cast aside.

[@Xenolithial]

This is a really thoughtful look into this series. I've watched the series multiple times (both 2003 and brotherhood), and it never really occurred to me that Ed's outright denial of God and religion (or at least "higher powers" ) in the early episodes is somewhat contradictory to what he knows to be true. He had already been to the Gate by the time he meets Cornello and Rose. He knows that whatever exists there is not exactly a manifestation of science. It's a being (or several beings) that deals in equivalency, but NOT in a remotely scientific manner. Using science you could never directly translate flesh and bone, or eyesight, into knowledge. Even if you COULD, the amount and type of flesh the Gate takes as payment is never equal in mass from person to person, yet the knowledge they receive is all more or less the same. Which would imply the Gate deals more in the emotional value we place on something, rather than it's actual chemical composition. Rather than following some set of understood principles, every trade the Gate makes is seemingly based on its own whims, and, more importantly, its own interpretations of equivalency. And that interpretation seems to be almost solely rooted in irony, not on organic or chemical composition. Ed went to the Gate because couldn't let go of the past, and he wanted so desperately to keep his family together. Something that seems even more valuable to him after Hohenheim had abandoned them. In response, TheGate takes the literal leg Ed walks on, and with it his ability to move forward and support the ones he cares about. And then, just as an added touch, it takes the only family he has left. From Al, who had just wanted to feel the warmth of his mother, The Gate takes his ability to feel anything physical at all. When Ed tries to get Al back, The Gate takes Ed's arm. Which becomes more significant when you remember that one of the things he got from the first attempt was his ability to transmute without a circle. Ed still maintains this ability, but without automail he would have never been able to actually USE it. Looking at it like that, in some ways it almost feels like The Gate was telling him what he would need to give up in the end to get Al back completely. Continuing, we have Mustang, whose entire life is built around his vision for what the country COULD be. From him, The Gate takes his eyesight. Izumi wanted her baby more than anything, and from her it takes her ability to ever have children again. Yet in spite of all this, the Gate proves that you CAN trade in souls. Al's soul is worth an arm, and, later saves Ed life; the people of Xerxes become philosopher stones and energy. But only in very specific circumstances it seems, and the soul must still have a connection to the physical world for the Gate to allow anyone to barter for it. Despite seeing all this, Ed adamantly denies that anything can exist outside a scientific explanation. And yet he also offers no real explanation on what makes up a human soul - or why it is all but impossible to define, let alone transmute one. He warns Rose and Cornello about the cost of straying "too close to the sun," but doesn't elaborate on exactly why, scientifically, the cost of a soul would be so much higher than any other part of a person. Bodies, after all, are partially or successfully transmuted multiple times throughout the series* - often at little to no cost to the alchemist. A soul, on the other hand, is only ever bound to a host temporarily. Either the connection will wane and sever, or the soul will be imprisoned until it can be converted to energy. In the first scenario, redemption for the soul is possible. In the second, the soul is reduced to nothing more than currency. With all that in mind, viewing Ed in this light makes him seem much more desperate in his attempts to restore his brother. Early on, he can't seem to come to terms with what the Gate IS. He's hesitant to speak about it in any detail, and seems lost at finding any way to properly define it. It almost starts to feel like he doesn't seem to want to openly acknowledge that the Gate may exist outside his ability to comprehend, because if it DOES, he may never be able to find something he can offer it that will guarantee his brother's body in exchange. -- *Some examples of bodies being transmuted: -Al during the initial human transmutation; -Ed transmuting his arm, and, Ed again later after he has been impaled during his fight with Kimblee -The chimera's - both the humanoid (Lao, Martel, etc) and the animal, including Nina -Greed, when Ed takes down his shield -Gluttony (ed transmutes his stomach repeatedly trying to escape, with no success, and later is forced to transmute Envy instead); -Scar and Kimblee transmuting people directly to make them explode Etc

[@Gadget-Walkmen]

Edward's denial of god isn't "contradictory". The god/gods he denies are different from the The Gate and Truth because those things aren't really god as it's more of unknown entity that is the source of all alchemy. Ed DOES understand what gate is and has come to terms with it just that it was hard to describe to Al since he doesn't remember it but as soon as he told Izumi about this and they wanted to force al's memories back and they made a resolve to beat truth and get they're bodies back in the stair case scene. Truth isn't a "god" or a "deity" in the way we know it as a "creator deity" as we're not 100% sure what it really is but a reflection. It's just a reflection of someone's inner self of what THEY believe the "truth" to be so it can be god, universe, or the world depending on the person and why truth always mirrors the individual's shape.

[@muhammadnour283]

I feel like early Ed and Father are very similar. The difference is that Ed understood, or tried to understand the value and meaning of humanity and their souls, while Father literally cast aside his sins, which he thought limited him to being human. By the end of the story, Ed realizes that he is “one” and also a part of “all” while Father arrogantly tries to become the “one” that consumes “all”

[@TahtahmesDiary]

I loved your perspective very much, wasnt sure I agreed wuth you initially but you hooked me a few minutes in. You've definitely given me more to think about, and it makes me consider my own creations and beliefs beyond the show! Great video on an amazing story. 💚

[@rowanbrown5541]

Was not prepared for the emotions the music gave me

[@jacobthurmond6210]

“A story without a message... is like a man without a soul.” -Stan Lee

[@triggerhappy899]

One thing that i would have liked explored in this video is how the protagonist changed his view on exactly what a life was worth. In the beginning, Ed and Al, attempted to resurrect their dead mother or in other words, create a life in order to give back to their mother (or it could be argued that even if they had succeeded, it would not be the life of their mother they had made). But as the show progresses, and as Ed sees atrocities that alchemy has brought (nina being transmuted into a chimera, father turning human lives into a philosopher's stone), he soons begin to realize that the power (and therefore the cost) of a human life cannot be measured by alchemy, and by its very nature has the ability to transcend alchemy. There is no quantifiable measurement that Ed could find that states 'this is how much a human life is worth'. There is a dichotomy the show exposes, one being on the side of alchemy, that is humans are a sum of parts, no more no less and alchemy posseses the answer to recreate human lives and on the other end, humans are made up of something greater that alchemy cannot capture. As this shift happens, and Ed sees these awful things and learns of how the philosopher's stone came to be, he refuses to use it. Following a strict mindset of an alchemist, there is no equation on why he shouldnt use it if its there, but Ed starts to see human life through the lens of religion, that humans are more than the sum of their parts, more than flesh and bone which also parallels the lesson he learned on performing human transmutation. It wasnt that he failed, it was that it shouldnt be attempted to begin with and perhaps cannot be performed.

[@dragonxswords114]

This is the story of Eds realization of: "why would I need science or power when I have people supporting me" while Father holds the exact opposite viewpoint of "science and power are everything and can make you a god". Father isnt religious AT ALL, he seeks to overthrow a proven god using science and power at the expense of millions in order to give meaning to his existence and prove he had the right answer. Ed states in the very beginning that people with alchlemy have used science to become "godlike" and thinks science is everything. At this stage Ed and Father have similar viewpoints. The story with Nina was our first taste of using power at the expense of others. This scars Ed emotionally to the very end and causes Ed to grow over the story to see that power can and will corrupt you, and can also be abused to make people suffer. If Nina's father had love and support instead of power, she would still be alive. He realizes that power means nothing compared to being part of a mass of people with the same goal who support each other. This concept is the "Truth" or religion of this world and what gives meaning to life. As a matter of fact at the end Truth reveals that Father made the Homunculus because he secretly wanted a family and connections. But was too caught up in his own power to realize this. This concept was also pretty heavily explored with greed, who by all rights is a part of father. Think about that, Ed and the entire group became FRIENDS with A PART OF FATHER that secretly just wanted connections. Father ripped out his own emotions and this was why he had the wrong answer and got sealed away in the end.

[@CatholicK5357]

I love much about this show. What I find interesting though is how it uses European imagery and culture but combines it with a more Dharma type religious view.

[@Atamastra]

Dammit, now I gotta go rewatch this series for a fifth time, thanks to all these new insights you just plopped on my desk. 😞....😏 nah, who am I kidding? This show is gold-plated platinum and I fucking love it.

[@Joaogtenorio]

i love your videos please dont stop

[@over18irish]

I LOVE your breakdown! Good writing and editing, and voicework!

[@antoniakeeton9570]

"Edward Elric doesn't believe in unprovable concepts like creators, gods, or religions." So basically he's an atheist?

[@HonerableG]

Not really. His god is really science. He’s not spiritual, He believes that the unknowable can be knowable within the laws of scientific theory. Truth is his god. His religion is scientific theory.

[@kalesheonn8366]

@@HonerableG Ed would totally follow "I Fucking Love Science " on facebook.

[@Gadget-Walkmen]

​@@HonerableG That's not at all true. Ed is an atheist as he flat out says it in the manga in chapter 1, mangajar.com/manga/fullmetal-alchemist/chapter/1#page-16 His religion nor "god" isn't "scientific theory" or "science" because you ment as well say to for every scientist looking for truth or anyone looking for answer. He just heavily depends on it as he thinks he can solve all problems with alchemy/science but he learns that was just arrogance after seeing how bad and destructive pure objective scientific usage can be. They censor the word "atheist" in some versions of the anime/manga because ALOT of people are uncomfortable with the A-word being used, said, or described by some characters so they change it to some different things in multiple versions but characters throughout FMA constantly question or even denounce god. As for the entity known as "Truth"... Truth isn't a "god" or a "deity" as we're not 100% sure what it really is but a reflection. It's just a reflection of someone's inner self of what THEY believe the "truth" to be so it can be god, universe, or the world depending on the person and why truth always mirrors the individual's shape.

[@Gadget-Walkmen]

@@kalesheonn8366 What's that?

[@kalesheonn8366]

@@Gadget-Walkmen it’s a Facebook page that’s totally cringey “science” run by people who are definitely not scientists, but have a cursory interest in it.

[@AirC4523]

I like this breakdown on FMAB’s philosophy way more than wisecrack’s

[@brandencortez1205]

I like when Father becomes "the perfect being" and opens his gate to reach God(the truth) becoming humongous, but when he is face to face with The Truth he is nothing but a ball with an eye, his truest form even now is small and almost insignificant.

[@Urbanfour]

The one that truly drove him away from a purely scientific perspective was the sewing life alchemist

[@Nessmess001]

Stellar explanation! Just discovered your channel and I have to thank you, I'm learning a lot! Love how clearly and elaborately you explained the complex themes of my favorite anime 😁 good job!

[@riverlefae2047]

I personally believe philosophy creates questions, and makes an attempt at answering them.

[@beybenmici6268]

Amazing take on this great show

[@OliveTF2]

I’ve never considered until watching this video that one of the themes of FMA is the consequences of the existence of a God who is not omnipotent, omniscient, or omnibenevolent, i.e. a God who is flawed. The question of the existence of evil is a common critique of religion.

[@VAMPYRICBASSIST]

How is this video not trending?!😍😍😍😍

[@Kailova07]

So if you think about it, the reason Ed’s portal was equivalent exchange for Al is because Alchemy was his life before. Alchemy was his identity. So it’s as though he gave up his old life for Al’s life to be brought back.

[@sagebauland4276]

How about the fact that Ed has to put his hands in a prayer position to use alchemy

[@dragzking]

He doesn't have to, we've seen him clap his hands together with one arm completely limp, but it was most likely a choice that was made to push the narrative

[@dargossss]

I didn't need another reason to reread FMA, but here I go again!

[@schnoz2372]

Damn I love alchemy how have I not watched this whole show yet

[@andrex1456]

Such a good show how tf can anything be this good

[@ihl0700677525]

Interesting take. But I think "scientific" and "certainty" can't be put together. IMO there's no such thing as "scientific certainty". Ed is a *skeptics,* and not a follower of the "church of science". The only thing he know is that he doesn't know anything for certain, including the alchemy and "science" itself, which is one the theme of the whole adventure.

[@RacingSnails64]

"Because he created it to be that way." damn this video is so satisfying. stories are so satisfying.

[@thomaslinssen1426]

There are so many interesting discussions in the comments, I must have been here for at least an hour

[@tuckinatorinator787]

My personal favorite moment is the end. Father who speaks of man striving to become a God will always fail tries to become God only to be told by God that for all he knows and for all he has done he's no more a God than when he was first born and then locked away with all the knowledge and power he could ever want and being trapped with it with Father wondering what he did wrong only to be told he already knew and chose to ignore it.

[@andrewglazer5329]

I need to watch this show again.

[@kayosiiii]

Nice video but I am going to take issue with the characterisation of science in this video. Science is a philosophical stance, it is essentially a pragmatic form of philosophical skepticism. Which is to say that nothing is knowable completely, all knowledge is probabilistic. For pragmatic reasons science accepts the idea that best fits observation to be true (with the understanding that acceptance can be reversed as new observations can be made. As such science can deal with complex questions, not always giving concrete answers. For instance we might not be able to able to give a correct answer on a question but we might be able to give a probability of a particular outcome given every thing we do know, these are often called complex system sciences. Now not everybody including many scientists necessarily understand the philosophical underpinnings of science and do perceive science as you describe. I think it is important to be accurate in depicting science as a particular position within philosophy rather than as two competing world views.

[@nickpastorino5370]

... you mean theories as opposed to facts, in which science is a fair mix of both.

[@robinwang6399]

Also in the scene where Ed used his gate as a exchange, he simply made the only choice there is to accomplish his goal, he still would have kept the ability to transmute if he could, but he simply valued his brother more than his ability. The sacrifice of the transmutation abilities is not the end of Ed’s alchemist career, evident by the last episode of the entire show.

[@Gadget-Walkmen]

it's not that ed "simply" made his choice to accomplish his goal. It's that he learned his lesson on his hubris thinking that alchemy can solve all problems. It can't. It's just a tool like any other instrument. Edward's character is about being scientific genius prodigy, who heavily relies on science and think it solves all the answer, whose trying to recorrect the mistakes of his past along side his brother while learning along his way the that the very power of science (alchemy) that he thought he could solve all of problems with is not entirely right from his journeys seeing how it’s used negatively and learns to value his friends/family more than absolute power from alchemy. So that's why he develops a philosophical and scientific view of the world then just pure objectivism mindset of using alchemy to solve all of his problem which makes him think he's god for it. This is highly highlighted in the very episode 1/chapter 1 where he thinks scientists are basically gods but he later on realizes that FAR from being true at the slightest and that alchemy/science is just another tool and shouldn't make him arrogant or consume his life. It's entirely new and different for a shonen main character.

[@robinwang6399]

@@Gadget-Walkmen please note I said the “only choice”. Letting go of his personal philosophy is a interpretation of the choice but it is only but a interpretation.

[@Gadget-Walkmen]

@@robinwang6399 I mean that wasn't the "only choice" tho, it was an option, he could have use the Philosopher's stone or even his dad's life but choice not to to find a different answer to the solution. Which was giving up his alchemy.

[@robinwang6399]

@@Gadget-Walkmen he didn’t have access to anything else when he is with the truth. He could have before Ed made his sacrifice, he could have before he decided to get himself into that specific situation, but not at that moment.

[@saieshpatil7077]

Watching 3rd video since subscription You are great

[@CepheusTalks]

the stone at no point circumvented the laws of equivalent exchange, it uses the souls contained within to fuel transmutations instead of relying on something else

[@SonGojit456]

Edward is a Well Written Anime Character

[@EALM95]

The origin of both Father and Ed and Al is also a driving point, though not stated as so, in the story. Father was the original homunculus created by science in a religious kind of setting. He came to be by Hohenheim's blood and assumed this godlike persona after using Hohenheim as a human medium. He is essentially Hohenheim's science and religion based child. Homunculus understands existence and the world, the rules of god governing science. On the other hand, Edward and Alphonse are created by Hohenheim's human relation and interaction with Trisha. They came to be by his blood in a less literal sense. They understand nothing and are eager to learn, but they also have morals and appreciate life. They have relationships with other lives and shape the world from the front lines instead of the shadows like Father. While the story tackles religion, atheism and the like, it seems like the story itself is agnostic. God or not, superior being having created life or not, live your life to the fullest and take care of yourself and those you care about.

[@NeedorhEryak]

this video makes me wanna re-watch FMA:B

[@raifaustino]

Maybe the real philosopher's stone was the friends we made along the way

[@masterofrockets]

5:50 that is one of the bustiest room corners I have ever seen

[@lycandeadfall8542]

Another great theme of FMA is that any extreme can be harmful. Those who believe solely in science become card & heartless to emotion. And those who solely follow faith are too attached to emotions and become arrogant and misguided. We live in a grey world that tries to force people to choose white or black when neither are quite true.

[@robinwang6399]

Ed giving up transmutation, does not mean he gave up his research.

[@AliumMoAnn]

He outgrew it in favor of something greater

[@robinwang6399]

@@AliumMoAnn actually he went to further his research at the end if I remembered correctly. I am referring to the train station scene at the end of brotherhood.

[@AliumMoAnn]

@@robinwang6399 I meant that he gave up his transmutation ability for something greater (aka research)

[@robinwang6399]

@@AliumMoAnn oh, I see. Then we mean the same.

[@RationalMonstar]

FMA:B One of the best anime soundtracks

[@Matt-xs7ih]

YES

[@DefenestrateYourself]

The original show had the superior score

[@Neo-bd9dk]

I don’t blame Father for Xerxes. I do blame him for everything after. Personally I find it super weird how we only see Hohenheim and Father have 2 meaningful but super short conversations in Xerxes: (1st) Hohenheim you should have human rights and educate yourself, and (2nd) what I want out of life. I don’t blame Father for Xerxes. I blame the King who demanded immortality at the cost of his own nation. And I blame Hohenheim by 4%. Not for the reason Hohenheim blames himself for (trusting the Homunculus). No. I blame Hohenheim for not offering to make an empty human shell for the Homunculus after it straight up tells him: “I think I could be happy if I could just leave my flask.” If Hohenheim was genuinely grateful, he should have asked if there was an ethical way to help the Homunculus through alchemy. The way it was written, leaves the Homunculus alone as Hohenheim ignores his wish, and the Homunculus’ only option is to take advantage of the King. The Xerxes flashback needed to be a full arc. So that we really get a sense of who Father was as a full being, the depth of his friendship with Hohenheim, and if he’s evil by nature. It’s super weird that from Hohenheim is a young teen to his mid 40s, we only get 2 meaningful scenes.

[@Silence-qm3ku]

I'll go with original anime Homonculi over Brotherhood's adaptation any day. Philosophical struggle takes away from small and personal story FMA used to be before manga shifted it's focus into zombie armies and no rule shounen combat. OG anime homunculi carried for weight because personal quilt and regret are relatable human emotions. Something that resonates with readers more and something so incomprehensible like philosophical conflict between science and religion.

[@durzoblint1454]

All this being True I still feel the biggest event to push Ed towards a philosophical outlook is clearly Nina and Alexander.

[@djackson1374]

I kinda feel like the the convo Father had with Truth ruins his character by trying to make him sympathetic

[@JanesArt01]

You are amazing, your essays are really deep and thought through. New sub :)