Abstract
Michael Tye’s book has two main themes: (i) the rejection of the
‘phenomenal concept strategy’ as a solution to the problems of
consciousness for physicalism, and (ii) a new proposed solution to these
problems which appeals to Russell’s (1910–11) distinction between
knowledge by acquaintance and knowledge by description. Interweaved
between these two main themes are a number of radical new claims
about perceptual consciousness, including a defence of a sort of
disjunctivism about perceptual content and an interesting account of
the phenomena of change blindness and inattentional blindness. Tye’s
book shows all his usual philosophical virtues: it is bold, clear, inventive,
and demonstrates his admirable willingness to scrutinise critically
his earlier views.