what would make you change your beliefs?

[Knight]

Knight -

What turned the computer back on? Computers have users, don't they? I say the user is consciousness. Consciousness is the software, the real us, the user. It uses the body. The brain hosts the software (us).

That's actually a good point. I'd say that our brains are definitely more advanced than computers. We have a set sleep cycle. It is as if our brains are self-programmed to shut down and reboot after specific periods of time, probably developed for evolutionary reasons. When we are babies and as we grow, we adapt to the sleep habits of those around us. Generally, we wake around sunrise and sleep around sunset. This would allow us, as hunters and gathers, to collect food and better manipulate our environment (building, etc.). Our brains, for some reason, need to recharge every day, and at night seems to be the most convenient time for this to happen. Over time, we naturally develop a semi-automatic sleep cycle. I only say "semi" because yes, while we are conscious, we can screw up our sleep cycle by choosing to stay up late or by going to bed at an unusual hour. Our body responds negatively when we do this, however, which suggests that our brains are functioning on a set schedule. If we try to consciously change this set schedule, it is as if we have illegally shut off our computer, and now we have to run an annoying system scan to make sure no important data was lost.

Plus, have you heard of the major issues with airplane pilots falling asleep while flying due to a lack of sleep? This isn't a conscious decision, this is the brain responding "Hey man, you are way behind schedule, it's time for sleep mode NOW." Minus the dialogue, of course.