What is consciousness good for?

Continuing this post, Chapter 3 explains that consciousness is useful for transforming fast, unconsciously processed information into a code that allows for slower executive examination and decision. This summarized code allows for the information to be stored in limited working memory. This in turn allows for us to not only remember the past but project into the future, something unconsciousness is incapable of being tied to present contingencies. Dehaene suggests this process has been naturally selected given the advantages it provides. Conscious information is also cross pollinated between individuals culturally, which allows for evolution beyond individual capacities. This creates "multicore social algorithms" which seems to support cultural selection as well as individual.