Formal arguments

P1) For all things, if an animal is worthy of moral consideration, then we should not exploit them to any greater degree than we would tolerate for trait-adjusted humans.

P2) If animals don’t have moral worth, then there exists something true about animals such that if it were made true for humans, humans wouldn’t have moral worth.

P3) There doesn’t exist something true about animals such that if it were made true for humans, humans wouldn’t have moral worth.

C) Therefore, we should not exploit animals to any greater degree than we would tolerate for trait-adjusted humans.

P1) Sentient beings can feel pain, fear, joy, and other emotions.

P2) Causing unnecessary harm to sentient beings is morally wrong. (normative)

P3) Animals are sentient beings.

C) Therefore, it is morally wrong to cause unnecessary harm to animals, and they ought be granted negative rights in consequence.