Understanding Scar Through the Lens of Philosophical Ethics in 'Fullmetal Alchemist'
Benzene and Greed's Connection with Scar
The infamous character Scar from the Fullmetal Alchemist franchise stands out amongst the large cast of characters due to his unique state as an Ishbalan survivor and alchemist. But what is the philosophical reasoning towards Scar's existence? Is Scar a representation of philosophical ethics, and if so, what does it mean? To understand the answer, one must look at the motivations surrounding Scar's actions, most notably, his use of his alchemy and his master plan.
Benzene And Greed
Thescar's actions in the series are heavily intertwined with the use of the elite alchemy formula, Benzene. Developed as a part of Greed's so-called "Philosopher's Stone Project", Benzene was a powerful tool that allowed Scar to bypass the limitations of alchemy. By consuming it, Scar was able to create a powerful form of alchemy with no need for a transmutation circle, which gave him a massive advantage over his opponents.
It is this ability to create powerful alchemy with no need for an alchemical procedure that gives Scar his sense of power and independence. This independence is the core of his motivation and his belief that it is necessary to do whatever is necessary to survive. In a sense, Scar's condensation of Benzene could be seen as an ethical stance, as it allows him to pursue freedom over strict adherence to alchemical regulations.
Scar's Master Plan
Scar also has a longer term goal which serves as a further example of his philosophical ethics. After devising a plan to use powerful alchemy to stop the ongoing Ishbal War, Scar works to collect enough human souls in order to create a massive Philosopher's Stone that will be powerful enough to accomplish his goal. While at first this is seen as pure evil, upon further research it can be seen as an attempt to move away from the military conflict and achieve a peaceful resolution.
By collecting souls of Ishbalans, Scar is able to direct the blame away from the Ishbalans while still taking advantage of their power. In this way, Scar is able to use the power of alchemy to resolve the war without needing to kill anyone. This utilitarianism highlights Scar's belief that the ends justify the means, as long as they benefit everyone involved.
Understanding Scar Through Philosophical Ethics
By looking at Scar's actions throughout the series it can be seen that his motivations center around gaining independence and finding a way to resolve the Ishbal War without needing to take any more lives. This is a clear example of philosophical ethics, as Scar uses his abilities in an ethical fashion in order to achieve a greater good. His motivations are not evil, but rather attempts to make the world a better place and ultimately benefit everyone involved.