D&D 5E Why is animate dead considered inherently evil?

[Tolerable Tyrant]

I'm having a troublesome time understanding why the animate dead spell is considered evil. When I read the manual it states that the spall imbues the targeted corpse with a foul mimicry of life, implying that the soul is not a sentient being who is trapped in a decaying corpse. Rather, the spell does exactly what its title suggests, it only animates the corps. Now of course one could use the spell to create zombies that would hunt and kill humans, but by that same coin, they could create a labor force that needs no form of sustenance (other than for the spell to be recast of course). There have also been those who have said "the spell is associated with the negative realm which is evil", however when you ask someone why the negative realm is bad that will say "because it is used for necromancy", I'm sure you can see the fallacy in this argument.

However, I must take into account that I have only looked into the DnD magic system since yesterday so there are likely large gaps in my knowledge. PS(Apon further reflection I've decided that the animate dead spell doesn't fall into the school of necromancy, as life is not truly given to the corps, instead I believe this would most likely fall into the school of transmutation.) PPS(I apologize for my sloppy writing, I've decided I'm feeling too lazy to correct it.)

 

[Cadence]

I guess. To me it just reduces undead to washing machines

That's what Nicol Bolas wanted everyone to think, isn't it?

 

[NotAYakk]

Resurrection, short of true resurrection, is blocked by undeath.

This to me means tmubdeath shackles the creature's soul.

Which in turn would explain why it is evil.

In this interpretation, animating undead is not forming a flesh golem. Rather, it is grabbing the soul associated with the corpse, wiring it back to the body with necrotic energy, and making a tortured puppet out of the entire mess.

A rather evil act.

 

[Crimson Longinus]

Resurrection, short of true resurrection, is blocked by undeath.

This to me means tmubdeath shackles the creature's soul.

Which in turn would explain why it is evil.

In this interpretation, animating undead is not forming a flesh golem. Rather, it is grabbing the soul associated with the corpse, wiring it back to the body with necrotic energy, and making a tortured puppet out of the entire mess.

A rather evil act.

This indeed is metaphysics that would be a reasonable justification for considering it evil. But I don't think the current description of animate dead implies that this is what's happening.

 

[FarBeyondC]

Creating something that wants to end life as its primary motivation is evil, and the ability to mitigate this doesn't change that.

 

[RoughCoronet0]

The morality of necromancy and undeath in general was something I had thought about in regards to my homebrew world.

On Salvera, souls are considered a sacred and protected resource due to the fact that the gods of my realms grow their power from drawing willing and faithful souls to their planes in the afterlife. All unclaimed souls go to the “Realm of Memories” to be purified and sent back to the mortal world in a cycle of life, death and reincarnation by the god of the cycle (and the unofficial over-deity of my world so he is the big boss) until that soul finds their final afterlife.

So in regards to all of that, any form of necromancy or undead that fuels its powers or gains sustenance from corrupting, damaging, consuming or otherwise destroying souls are considered unequivocally evil because all mortal souls deserve the right to their afterlife (according to the god of the cycle). Those that practice this form of necromancy, and all undead created that feed on souls or destroy souls are hunted mercilessly.

However, necromancy that taps into the negative and necrotic energies of places like the Shadowfell or the Negative Energy Plane and uses that to fuel their necromantic powers is seen in a better light respectively. Likewise, undead (particularly intelligent undead) that gain sustenance through either feeding of pure necrotic energy or feeding on living matter like blood or flesh don’t have to be wholly evil (though going around and killing people like a monster is still going to get said undead destroyed).

Necromancy and undeath in general is still seen as not all that great in many places, especially due to some more recent history regarding a very crazy faction of people, but there are good undead and good practitioners of necromantic arts and several gods that accept such beings into there fold. The god of the cycle himself doesn’t hate intelligent undead either so long as the process of becoming undead or remaining undead is in the mortal’s control (if you hadn’t notice, consent is a big thing with this guy). So for example a vampire that willingly became a vampire, or who was accidentally turned but chose to remain a vampire is alright in his eyes.

Just thought I’d share.

 

[ECMO3]

I'm having a troublesome time understanding why the animate dead spell is considered evil. When I read the manual it states that the spall imbues the targeted corpse with a foul mimicry of life, implying that the soul is not a sentient being who is trapped in a decaying corpse. Rather, the spell does exactly what its title suggests, it only animates the corps. Now of course one could use the spell to create zombies that would hunt and kill humans, but by that same coin, they could create a labor force that needs no form of sustenance (other than for the spell to be recast of course). There have also been those who have said "the spell is associated with the negative realm which is evil", however when you ask someone why the negative realm is bad that will say "because it is used for necromancy", I'm sure you can see the fallacy in this argument.

It is respect for the dead.

It is the same reason that IRL it is considered evil to have sex with a corpse or mutilate a corpse IRL or eat someone who is already dead.

 

[Lakesidefantasy]

I'm having a troublesome time understanding why the animate dead spell is considered evil.

Really?

 

[DND_Reborn]

I'm having a troublesome time understanding why the animate dead spell is considered evil. When I read the manual it states that the spall imbues the targeted corpse with a foul mimicry of life, implying that the soul is not a sentient being who is trapped in a decaying corpse. Rather, the spell does exactly what its title suggests, it only animates the corps. Now of course one could use the spell to create zombies that would hunt and kill humans, but by that same coin, they could create a labor force that needs no form of sustenance (other than for the spell to be recast of course). There have also been those who have said "the spell is associated with the negative realm which is evil", however when you ask someone why the negative realm is bad that will say "because it is used for necromancy", I'm sure you can see the fallacy in this argument.

However, I must take into account that I have only looked into the DnD magic system since yesterday so there are likely large gaps in my knowledge. PS(Apon further reflection I've decided that the animate dead spell doesn't fall into the school of necromancy, as life is not truly given to the corps, instead I believe this would most likely fall into the school of transmutation.) PPS(I apologize for my sloppy writing, I've decided I'm feeling too lazy to correct it.)

Alignment has quickly gone to the sidelines in D&D given its lack of impact on 5E rules.

As such, "evil" is subjective. The components aren't even an issue really, since nothing specifies the blood, flesh, or bone dust come from a sentient creature. Although a "foul mimicry of life", 5E doesn't specify where that comes from, and really the only reason it is "foul" is because it is not actually life. But looking at the stat blocks of the undead, we'll see there is support for where their "life" comes from (a bit later).

The bones or corpse are really just objects, devoid of life, so this point it is no more "evil" than the animate objects spell, really. As you suggest, it similarly could be thought of as transmutation as animate objects is.

However, some important differences should be pointed out:

1. Animate Dead is instantaneous, but really should be considered permanent as the undead, once created, exists until destroyed. They cannot be dispelled via dispel magic, etc. So, unlike animate objects, they continue to go on once made.

2. Skeletons and Zombies ARE evil (lawful and neutral). Although they obey your commands, the implications due to their alignment is that some "essence" has revived them, also given that they understand the languages they knew in life, this implies a tie to their previous life. So, perhaps some "link" to their soul is established by the spell. If this is the case, necromancy makes more sense and the spell is linking the departed soul to the animated creature.

The fact also they you must re-establish control daily implies the undead created want to do their own thing. Skeletons actually have an INT 6, so while not bright, they are capable of independent thought.

Over all, while I understand your point, I would say the spell is "evil" in that it compels the departed soul into a servitude until the undead escapes, but even then the soul would likely be vengeful for being linked to its corpse (hence why skeletons and zombies are evil). To be clear, my interpretation isn't that the soul is inhabiting the corpse, but rather is "linked" to it.

FWIW, in 1E AD&D, both skeletons and zombies were (true) neutral, but then the flesh component had to be human.

 

[Vaalingrade]

Creating something that wants to end life as its primary motivation is evil, and the ability to mitigate this doesn't change that.

We still make more humans though!

Vigorously.

 

[the Jester]

I will say this for about the fifth time. There would be procedures to prevent the skeletons from rebelling in the worst-case scenario. I've covered everything you have said in previous posts. But in summary, the undead wouldn't be big ol skeletons. They would be optimized for work, not battle. Like a bucket with skeletal legs or a pair of arms that pulls on a rope. Before you ask, yes this is possible with the reanimate undead spell.

Which does nothing to make this not an evil act. You're still creating an evil monster that is murderously inclined toward the living, even if you do so in a locked room and leave it there forever.