WHETHER ETHICS TOWARDS OBJECTS WITH SOUL (CONSCIOUSNESS) IS DIFFERENT FROM ETHICS TOWARDS OBJECTS WITHOUT SOUL?

There are ethical responsibilities towards both objects with soul (Consciousness) and those without souls. 

In the case of objects without soul, one has to operate in moderation. Thus there should be consumption of such resources in moderation without greed and grabbing. The needs of future generations are also to be kept in mind. Thus one has to use the common wealth for common good  with common sense .

In the case of objects with soul (other than human being), one has to use them with proper judgement based on the principle of least damage. Thus for saving  human life and ensuring human sustenance, other living beings may be compromised to the barest minimum but without undue exploitation.

In the case of human beings , the ethical responsibilities are too many.

The underlying factors of ethical responsibilities are only love and compassion  

In general, the degree of ethical responsibility is more in case of objects with soul compared to objects without soul.

जय जय श्रीराधे 

HOW TO TEST WHETHER AN ALIEN BEING HAS FREE WILL ?

When the alien being has the capability to do things on its own when multiple options are available in the context of the environment in which it is operating , the existence of its  free will can be established.

Animals are instinct-based and their behavior is predictable. But they do have a limited free will which they can exercise on their own volition just like a cow tethered to a Peg. Thus predictability and free-will can go together as well.

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WHETHER THERE ARE ANY TESTS TO DETERMINE THE EXISTENCE OF CONSCIOUSNESS?

The existence of consciousness can be determined by the following tests:

a)     External awareness in terms of the surrounding environment

b)    Spontaneous response to external stimuli without any artificially  programmed stimulus or implanted manipulations

c)     Self-propelled motion without any artificially  programmed stimulus or implanted manipulations

d)      Presence of life-breath embedded in the body

e)     Self-awareness in terms of the conscious feeling of “I” and “Mine”

f)       Self-experience of bodily pain or pleasure  

While the existence of  first four can be ascertained by another conscious being, the last two are intrinsic to the particular conscious being  as these are based on one’s own experience which is not explicitly known to others.

Consciousness of a different being  can be established by another  being having consciousness by means of the tests enumerated above. Thus we cannot say that consciousness can neither be observed nor its existence proved or disproved.

जय जय श्रीराधे