Octopuses have been around and intelligent around as long as trees have existed.
Their cupreas blood chemistry is probably the genetic bottleneck that has prevented them from taking over the world. They can learn skills from the observation of other octopuses's behavior. The only time they don't attempt to eat each other on sight is when mating.
If souls exists, they probably have them.
They are also delicious.
Thus I am torn on the concept of eating them.