I’m much more inclined to believe that dreams are pure System 1 stuff and essentially what we perceive is just how it feels inside when the part of the brain t

I’m much more inclined to believe that dreams are pure System 1 stuff and essentially what we perceive is just how it feels inside when the part of the brain that thinks it’s in charge is 100% riding shotgun and the part that’s the actual driver is doing whatever dreams are for. Especially given that dreams are mostly the polar opposite of what System 2 is good at. This hypothesis is at least as good as yours, and requires fewer assumptions. For the record, I’m also very inclined to believe that even in the waking life the “conscious mind” has vastly less command authority than it likes to think, mostly receiving “executive memos” when the actual decision has already been made by the faster parts of the brain.