| **Definiendum** | **Definiens** | |:-------------------------------------------:|:----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **P** | something (x) counts as predation | | **Q** | something (x) involves an animal (y) regularly capturing another animal (z) | | **R** | something (x) involves an animal (y) regularly killing another animal (z) | | **S** | something (x) involves an animal (y) regularly subduing another animal (z) | | **T** | something (x) involves an animal (y) regularly consuming, to the captor's benefit, another animal (z) | | **a** | animal agriculture | | **h** | humans | | **l** | livestock |
P1) Something counts as predation if, and only if, something involves an animal regularly capturing, killing or subduing, and consuming, to the captor's benefit, another animal.
(∀x∀y∀z(Px↔Qxyz∧(Rxyz∨Sxyz)∧Txyz))
P2)
Animal agriculture involves humans regularly capturing livestock.
(Qahl)
P3)
Animal agriculture involves humans regularly killing or subduing livestock.
(Rahl∨Sahl)
P4)
Animal agriculture involves humans regularly consuming, to the captors' benefit, livestock.
(Tahl)
C)
Therefore, animal agriculture counts as predation.
(∴Pa)

[Proof Tree](https://www.umsu.de/trees/#(~6x~6y~6z(Px~4Qxyz~1(Rxyz~2Sxyz)~1Txyz)),(Qahl),(Rahl~2Sahl),(Tahl)|=(Pa)) --- ### Ethical Factory Farming Reductio | **Definiendum** | **Definiens** | |:-------------------------------------------:|:--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **D** | a predator (x) engages in predation (y) | | **R** | it is the case that we ought stop the predator (x) from engaging in predation (y) | | **a** | human | | **m** | factory farming pigs |
P1) If a predator engages in predation, then it is not the case that we ought stop the predator from engaging in said predation.
(∀x∀y(Dxy→¬Rxy))
P2)
Humans engage in factory farming pigs.
(Dam)
C)
Therefore, it is not the case that we ought stop humans from engaging in factory farming pigs.
(∴¬Ram)

[Proof Tree](https://www.umsu.de/trees/#(~6x~6y(Dxy~5~3Rxy)),(Dam)|=(~3Ram)) --- # Hashtags #debate #arguments #predators