noun
- the subjective, conscious experiences or qualities of sensations as perceived by an individual
Usage: philosophy; psychology; typically used in plural
Examples
- The redness of a rose and the sweetness of honey are examples of qualia.
- Philosophers debate whether qualia can be fully explained by physical processes.
- The qualia of pain cannot be directly shared or communicated to others.
- Scientists study how the brain produces the qualia of different sensory experiences.
- The subjective nature of qualia makes them difficult to measure objectively.
- Each person’s qualia for the color blue may be slightly different.