[ Totally fine. Their discretion is appreciated, regardless. ]
Yes, it is.
[ Anaxagoras says with a straight face. Smash cut to Sage looming in the distance. Smash cut back here. ]
In order to fill in your gaps, we have to briefly retread familiar ground.
For example, everyone who has heard enough of alchemy knows the fundamentals. Transmutation, Equivalent Exchange.
[ Anaxagoras writes on the white board "Alchemy" with a venn diagram of its other subjects. ]
However, why do you think it is forbidden for alchemists to use their knowledge to reach out to those who have passed on? Or apply their methods to the affect the soul?
[ OH DAMN. anaxa really getting into the thick of things huh? that's fine. foxglove wasn't expecting this but won't claim. this is the sort of thing it quite enjoys. ]
Do you mean from a moral standpoint or an ethical one?
[ it'll give it a deep think. mainly because it's never been an idea for them. ]
I suppose it's the same for me, but there's no way to quantify a soul—to recreate their ego. It's not something that can be created using chemicals or compounds. Even if someone would dare to try to bring someone back from dead, all there would be is the body.
The soul is something different. Each soul is different.
[ Anaxagoras is truly that type of Professor - he can't be the individual who avoids this line of discussion, even if I'm quietly strangling him. But, that's just how it be sometimes. ]
Both are the same for myself as well.
[ Just offering that right from the bat! ]
For many, that is enough to cause a dilemma when it comes to exploring the idea of involving themselves with the subject in question. It's also integral to the life of other beings. Or, of course, the issue of respecting the dead who have passed.
Naturally, that's not going to be an issue here. [ Saying this bluntly. ] We can start to talk about the idea of exploring the impossibilities. For example, a lost soul, a lost ego.
Recreating an ego from zero is difficult to imagine, as you've stated. Though, it isn't impossible. Proven by the creation of other sentient lifeforms, even if it is rare that it is an entire "human being".
With that in mind, what do you think makes up an "individual"? Literally speaking, their composition? Or, something beyond that?
[ oh! well that's good that they're on the same page and it'll listen to him intently as for the question. ]
An individual, in the literal sense, is something that can't be defined by anything tangible. Memories, experiences, other unknown factors that contribute something forming their own personality and ego...
[ hmmm. ]
All of it would come from the brain, but even if you'd recreate the same brain is still a blank slate until it experiences those things.
[ It's probably the fact that they've both have alchemy-related backgrounds, it's totally fine. Now, he will begin to doodle (more) on the whiteboard alchemical symbols and all that important jazz, assuming the other will be able to follow along at a decent clip. ]
That's correct. At that point, the material we're looking at instead of something "physical" becomes something like "memories" and other matter that remains intangible. The spark of life, a soul, thoughts...difficult to grasp a hold of when you're starting from zero.
So, we can't usually bother gathering that into some kind of jar or beaker. Instead, there would be a substitution for other material, like what you managed to make based upon the notes of another. Even if it's imperfect.
But, if you nurture something like a "seed" as a container for life, there can be an even better energy source. Imagine if we can plant a literal seed after infusing it with some elemental magic or energy, and then when it matures, we can work from there.
[ ... ]
Now, in my experience, when having called out to the dead, there would still need to be something "physical" used in turn. Something that anchors them back to the living - perhaps a medium or catalyst upon which a surplus of energy has been placed inside. Then...the requisite alchemical formulae.
Though, I wouldn't recommend a body part, of course.
[ it'll nod along like a good student. tbh it's kind of interesting for it to hear about alchemy that's more magical based(?) than purely science. ]
I didn't use magic or any sort of elemental energy, but I followed the same idea when I attempting to recreate the Philosopher's Stone. Since there's no magic in my world, tapped into whatever I could.
[ nevertheless, it will continue to listen. ]
Wouldn't recommend a body part... [ unfortunately, foxglove isn't going to think about anaxa's eye but more of the other things that could be used. ] Is that an anecdotal account or one that comes with experience?
[ i cannot believe this tag is only 2 days old. it feels as though it should have been a week. ]
Perhaps that's why it's so deadly. It doesn't have a conventional lifeforce so it takes what it can when exposed.
[ does this give it comfort? probably not. ]
...and I assume that you were also unsuccessful in what you were trying to recreate. [ considering his word choice, anyway. ] Some lessons we learn in the most unforgiving ways.
[ Me when I get to some of my tags thinking I took two weeks but no it was two days?? Anyways, on the subject matter of certain serious things being discussed... ]
It takes from what it does not have...logical, though certainly unpleasant for obvious reasons.
[ The opposite of comforting indeed. ]
I was indeed unsuccessful as you imagined. Bringing back someone from the dead is not easy and a taboo, but it is what it is.
Perhaps it is even something that can be refined in some ways nevertheless - because we will be dealing with a multitude of souls surrounding us, and at that time I did at the least find a way to communicate with the beyond.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
How kind of her to help you.
[ cue this puppet sitting upright and giving him its full attention. ]
It's been a long time since I've had to attend class, but I'm ready.
no subject
Yes, it is.
[ Anaxagoras says with a straight face. Smash cut to Sage looming in the distance. Smash cut back here. ]
In order to fill in your gaps, we have to briefly retread familiar ground.
For example, everyone who has heard enough of alchemy knows the fundamentals. Transmutation, Equivalent Exchange.
[ Anaxagoras writes on the white board "Alchemy" with a venn diagram of its other subjects. ]
However, why do you think it is forbidden for alchemists to use their knowledge to reach out to those who have passed on? Or apply their methods to the affect the soul?
no subject
Do you mean from a moral standpoint or an ethical one?
[ it'll give it a deep think. mainly because it's never been an idea for them. ]
I suppose it's the same for me, but there's no way to quantify a soul—to recreate their ego. It's not something that can be created using chemicals or compounds. Even if someone would dare to try to bring someone back from dead, all there would be is the body.
The soul is something different. Each soul is different.
no subject
Both are the same for myself as well.
[ Just offering that right from the bat! ]
For many, that is enough to cause a dilemma when it comes to exploring the idea of involving themselves with the subject in question. It's also integral to the life of other beings. Or, of course, the issue of respecting the dead who have passed.
Naturally, that's not going to be an issue here. [ Saying this bluntly. ] We can start to talk about the idea of exploring the impossibilities. For example, a lost soul, a lost ego.
Recreating an ego from zero is difficult to imagine, as you've stated. Though, it isn't impossible. Proven by the creation of other sentient lifeforms, even if it is rare that it is an entire "human being".
With that in mind, what do you think makes up an "individual"? Literally speaking, their composition? Or, something beyond that?
no subject
An individual, in the literal sense, is something that can't be defined by anything tangible. Memories, experiences, other unknown factors that contribute something forming their own personality and ego...
[ hmmm. ]
All of it would come from the brain, but even if you'd recreate the same brain is still a blank slate until it experiences those things.
no subject
That's correct. At that point, the material we're looking at instead of something "physical" becomes something like "memories" and other matter that remains intangible. The spark of life, a soul, thoughts...difficult to grasp a hold of when you're starting from zero.
So, we can't usually bother gathering that into some kind of jar or beaker. Instead, there would be a substitution for other material, like what you managed to make based upon the notes of another. Even if it's imperfect.
But, if you nurture something like a "seed" as a container for life, there can be an even better energy source. Imagine if we can plant a literal seed after infusing it with some elemental magic or energy, and then when it matures, we can work from there.
[ ... ]
Now, in my experience, when having called out to the dead, there would still need to be something "physical" used in turn. Something that anchors them back to the living - perhaps a medium or catalyst upon which a surplus of energy has been placed inside. Then...the requisite alchemical formulae.
Though, I wouldn't recommend a body part, of course.
[ He learned the hard way once upon a time. ]
replies to this for real and not as a joke
I didn't use magic or any sort of elemental energy, but I followed the same idea when I attempting to recreate the Philosopher's Stone. Since there's no magic in my world, tapped into whatever I could.
[ nevertheless, it will continue to listen. ]
Wouldn't recommend a body part... [ unfortunately, foxglove isn't going to think about anaxa's eye but more of the other things that could be used. ] Is that an anecdotal account or one that comes with experience?
[ genuinely asking here. ]
no subject
[ So, there was no "magic" for the other to have drawn on in the first place...that sure is something, isn't it. ]
...You're correct it's from experience, however.
It was made on a judgment without reason; fully sentimental. It's not a mistake I plan to make again.
[ At least, he has gained enough wisdom to not allow himself be susceptible to it. ]
no subject
Perhaps that's why it's so deadly. It doesn't have a conventional lifeforce so it takes what it can when exposed.
[ does this give it comfort? probably not. ]
...and I assume that you were also unsuccessful in what you were trying to recreate. [ considering his word choice, anyway. ] Some lessons we learn in the most unforgiving ways.
no subject
It takes from what it does not have...logical, though certainly unpleasant for obvious reasons.
[ The opposite of comforting indeed. ]
I was indeed unsuccessful as you imagined. Bringing back someone from the dead is not easy and a taboo, but it is what it is.
Perhaps it is even something that can be refined in some ways nevertheless - because we will be dealing with a multitude of souls surrounding us, and at that time I did at the least find a way to communicate with the beyond.