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.)

 

[Vaalingrade]

Yep. Maybe. I can think of many instances where a minor wrong(bewitching the violent into laying down arms or showing mercy) is far preferable to a major one(letting the violent kill the old lady).

But the game doesn't go out of its way over how casting the mind destroying spells is icky and foul and if you cast them too much, you'll go blind.

 

[Mort]

Yep. Maybe. I can think of many instances where a minor wrong(bewitching the violent into laying down arms or showing mercy) is far preferable to a major one(letting the violent kill the old lady).

Certainly, but it doesn't mean the minor wrong is not still a wrong. "It's ok to mess with the minds of bad people..." is the kind of slippery slope that leads to very dangerous evil paths.

 

[Vaalingrade]

Surrender of agency is not the evil you seem to think it is. It happens every time someone is sent to prison.

Not gonna touch this one. Just not. Too easy.

 

[Mort]

But the game doesn't go out of its way over how casting the mind destroying spells is icky and foul and if you cast them too much, you'll go blind.

Necromancers tend to have CHA as a dump stat, enchanters don't. There are benefits!

 

[Maxperson]

Certainly, but it doesn't mean the minor wrong is not still a wrong. "It's ok to mess with the minds of bad people..." is the kind of slippery slope that leads to very dangerous evil paths.

I agree. D&D is great that way. Makes you make some hard choices if you are roleplaying your character like a real person.

 

[TheSword]

It's not a strawman at all, it was pointed out earlier in the thread that "only evil people cast Necromancy spells often" as evidence for the entire school of Necromancy to be tainted and corrupt- inherently evil on some level.

Raise Dead and Resurrection are Necromancy spells. Using the fact you can't Raise undead as evidence of the evil of undeath when the rulebook also tells us that Necromancy AS A SCHOOL OF MAGIC has inherent evil properties?

And as I also pointed out, being undead does not make you evil, as some undead, like ghosts, can be of any alignment.

I'm not being serious, I think it's all quite humorous, but you can't cite one thing the books say and then say "but this other thing isn't evidence".

No the actual quote refers to animating the dead not necromancy spells. You’re conflating two quotes. The one I gave above which is from the spell section and this one from the Wizard class description that references necromancy spells in general.

Most people see necromancers as menacing, or even villainous, due to the close association with death. Not all necromancers are evil, but the forces they manipulate are considered taboo by many societies.

The forces may be considered taboo, but aren’t themselves evil. It’s perfectly possible to play a non-evil necromancer… start by not creating undead. You’re free to cast other spells.

 

[Maxperson]

But the game doesn't go out of its way over how casting the mind destroying spells is icky and foul and if you cast them too much, you'll go blind.

That would be Necromancy.

Blindness/Deafness.

 

[James Gasik]

No the actual quote refers to animating the dead not necromancy spells. You’re conflating two quotes. The one I gave above which is from the spell section and this one from the Wizard class description that references necromancy spells in general.

Most people see necromancers as menacing, or even villainous, due to the close association with death. Not all necromancers are evil, but the forces they manipulate are considered taboo by many societies.

The forces may be considered taboo, but aren’t themselves evil. It’s perfectly possible to play a non-evil necromancer… start by not creating undead. You’re free to cast other spells.

I stand corrected, I somehow missed the "such as animate dead" when I read that quote before.

 

[nevin]

It's not a strawman at all, it was pointed out earlier in the thread that "only evil people cast Necromancy spells often" as evidence for the entire school of Necromancy to be tainted and corrupt- inherently evil on some level.

Raise Dead and Resurrection are Necromancy spells. Using the fact you can't Raise undead as evidence of the evil of undeath when the rulebook also tells us that Necromancy AS A SCHOOL OF MAGIC has inherent evil properties?

And as I also pointed out, being undead does not make you evil, as some undead, like ghosts, can be of any alignment.

I'm not being serious, I think it's all quite humorous, but you can't cite one thing the books say and then say "but this other thing isn't evidence".

it is a straw man. Necromantic spells that deal with undead in anyway but destroying them are EVIL. Been that way for so long it's a culturally presumed thing unless you play White Wolf Vampire.

now Raise Dead and Reincarnate are in what I'd call the grey area. You have to call on your god for power to do it so we assume the gods are following the rules or have the authority to bend them so we say it's not evil. Necromantic spells that don't actively harm people, create or fix undead are also in that grey area. In that area as GM I generally go with intent to determine the morality of it.

I don't think the school of necromancy is inherently evil there are spells that are useful and helpful. but........I do think players that like to be evil are very attracted to the powers and abilities the school of Necromancy offers thus creating a near certainty that someone playing a necromancer will commit many evil acts with many many justifications for why they are ok. I think that's why most DM's just call it evil. Because most players that like it play it evil. How many necromancers in all of your games combined have you seen avoid the spells about undead, level stealing or negative energy manipulation?

 

[nevin]

it's no different than summoning. if you summon evil creatures it's an evil act. Even if you do something good. You are bringing an evil creature who is supposed to be imprisoned on the lower planes and allowing them to potentially spread evil.