New Delhi, Sept. 30 -- Consciousness is the fundamental building block of human civilization. The law rests upon the presence of an inner life. It tests for motivation, intention and the capacity for judgement.

Historically, expanding rights-whether through abolitionist struggles or animal welfare cases-has been driven primarily by the empathetic recognition of shared, conscious experience. We expanded the moral circle to other biological entities, rightly, out of a recognition of dignity and the potential for suffering.

Consider Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which protects freedom of thought, conscience and religion. The 'conscientious objector' who refuses a legal obligation based on moral or religious convi...