We are not actually conscious in the sense that we actually know it. Organisms are analogous to machines. In fact consciousness is simply the rapid execution of endless yes or no decisions, the same way a computer runs.

When we are born, we have a body, but no experiences or memories. There are some basic reflexes and a capacity to learn. This can be likened to a computer in that it too is hardware with a BIOS to run basic check processes on bootup. Computers also come with the basic software to expand its capabilities.

The moment we enter the world, we begin remembering our experiences and reacting to them. Early experiences are not recorded explicitly, with only basic characteristics such as pain, hunger, thirst, and other bodily needs. These bodily needs are inputs much like peripherals on a computer. The person will respond, but there will only be basic responses. A young child might be hungry many times a day, but it will only be capable of knowing that he is hungry, and cry as an output. He is incapable of harboring more complex outputs such as resentment.

Over time we develop the capacity to actually remember more and more features of events. These first complete experiences are crucial, as they will be recorded, or remembered, when encountering similar events. This also might explain why early childhood memories often have a significant impact, and why over time the impact may fade, as more memories (programs) are accumulated.  Generally, an experience or situation will be experienced countless times, such as walking down stairs, or eating an apple. After a certain situation has been experienced a certain number of times, an average memory program is created in our memory. When we need to do something, we simply recall this program and run it. Why is it that one does not always do something in precisely the same way? All programs will have a certain range of allowable error. Generally, the range is just enough to carry out the event while satisfying other factors. Ultimately everything is simply a program being run.

If one was hungry, the simplified process might be as follows.

1. The person feels hunger. Depending on what the body is craving at that particular time, sugar, for example, a craving will emerge for sugar. This is similar to a hardware signal.
2. Memory will be searched for closest available sources of sugar. Up until know, the total amount of time spent has probably been less than one second, with no real conscious effort. Once the target food is thought of, the basic programs necessary for obtaining it will be run. These could be walking to the pantry, opening a door, opening a wrapper, removing a cookie, and eating a cookie.
3. These programs are executed in the correct order, all of which were unconscious efforts. After all, how many times have you consciously thought about something such as getting a cookie from the pantry to eat.

All of our actions are determined by our organic hardware signals and program signals. Our actions are determined by the most immediately significant task at hand. Generally, the hardware, genetic and basic needs, signals supersede the software signals in importance.

Differing personalities are simply different experiences and number of experiences. However, genes will influence which programs to run and how to run them. Some individuals are inherently violent, for example. For these people, their genes create a desire to execute programs that will cause them to engage in acts of violence.

The difference in consciousness between higher and lower level organisms is simply the number of body inputs, such as sight, feel, smell, etc. These will influence the complexity of programs that can be run.

I’ve gone off topic a bit, but I’m suggesting that all of the the elements of consciousness, are in fact unconsciousness because there is no control. In fact we are just sitting back while we see, feel, and hear ourselves running our own programs. Conscious organisms are just sitting in the audience watching themselves.

None of this makes sense.