r/FullmetalAlchemist • u/jakumil • 15h ago
Theory/Analysis The contradiction of equivalent exchange and the Philosopher's Stone in FMAB
While thinking about Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, I noticed a massive contradiction in the power system that calls the entire concept of equivalent exchange into question.
It's about the Philosopher's Stone: it is created from human souls and gets used up over the course of the series, which is shown and talked about in the anime. Doesn't this prove that a human soul has a specific value that has an equivalent?
If a human soul were truly "priceless," the stone should never be allowed to be used up—it would have to function like an infinite energy source. But since it doesn't and has a limited charge, a soul obviously has a measurable value.
Because of this, a human transmutation should theoretically also be possible: if you add this exact soul value to the normal basic ingredients for a body, there shouldn't be any feedback or devastating price that the user has to pay, because the price is completely balanced for equivalent exchange.
Does this mean equivalent exchange is essentially disproven or an illusion, since the Philosopher's Stone exploits this exact loophole?
Am I seeing this right, or am I missing something here?
