equivalent exchange

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Equivalent exchange is the central philosophical and alchemical principle in Fullmetal Alchemist that states one cannot gain anything without sacrificing something of equal value.

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Statements (47)

Predicate Object
instanceOf concept in anime and manga
fictional alchemical law
fictional philosophical principle
narrative theme
alsoExpressedAs to obtain, something of equal value must be lost
appearsIn Fullmetal Alchemist NERFINISHED
Fullmetal Alchemist (manga) NERFINISHED
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood NERFINISHED
associatedWith law of conservation in alchemy (Fullmetal Alchemist) NERFINISHED
associatedWithCharacter Alphonse Elric NERFINISHED
Edward Elric NERFINISHED
Roy Mustang NERFINISHED
Van Hohenheim NERFINISHED
Winry Rockbell NERFINISHED
centralTo Fullmetal Alchemist NERFINISHED
contrastedWith use of human lives to create Philosopher's Stones
creatorContext Hiromu Arakawa NERFINISHED
fandomTerm Law of Equivalent Exchange NERFINISHED
firstIntroducedIn early chapters of Fullmetal Alchemist manga
early episodes of Fullmetal Alchemist anime
formulatedAs one cannot gain anything without sacrificing something of equal value
genreContext shonen manga
governs alchemical transmutation in Fullmetal Alchemist
hasInfluenced discussions of fictional alchemy in popular culture
memes and quotes in anime fandom
influences character motivations in Fullmetal Alchemist
moral choices in Fullmetal Alchemist
plot of Fullmetal Alchemist
languageOfOriginalFormulation Japanese
medium anime television series
manga
philosophicalTheme balance between gain and loss
consequences of human ambition
limits of human agency
price of power
questionedBy events involving the Philosopher's Stone
sacrifices of Xerxes
reinterpretedAs people are not alone and can gain through connections with others
reinterpretedBy Edward Elric at the end of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
relatedTo The Law of Equivalent Exchange NERFINISHED
symbolizes fairness and reciprocity
inevitability of sacrifice
moral responsibility for one’s actions
underpins fictional science of alchemy in Fullmetal Alchemist
usedToExplain cost of human transmutation
loss of Alphonse Elric's body
loss of Edward Elric's arm and leg

Referenced by (1)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Fullmetal Alchemist theme equivalent exchange