The problem of unconscious perceptual states

According to the traditional view-most commonly associated with G. E. Moore- the relation between our perception and consciousness is conceptually necessary. This paper argues against this view. The first part of the paper discusses the concept of unconscious perception, as well as several interesting phenomena in the recent clinical literature that give us persuasive evidence against the thesis that, as a matter of conceptual or a priori necessity, perception cannot occur without consciousness. The second part of the paper provides a thorough critical analysis of the two popular positions in the philosophy of perception-namely, representationalism and relationalism- in order to determine whether and how successfully they can account for the claim about the existence of unconscious perceptual states. I conclude that, at least in the context of the philosophical debate about unconscious perception, there are strong reasons to favour the representationalist account.