I believe that reality is basically unfathomable. Under real liberty there are no social contracts on anything. It is like the aftermath of the tower of Babel. (Which to me philosophically does not make ethics impossible)

If human is kidnapped to simulation or VR which is like momma’s house: it has its rules one can’t break or ask their justification, then any gadget or machine can seem conscious as long it does not break those rules. It is not the machine that is given consciousness but the world is simplified or dumbed down even.