idea
Qualia is the feeling of experiencing something, such as enjoying red wine, or the particular smell of an underground parking lot, or the sensation of isolation and silence in the mountain. Such experience is called a quale. Qualia is hard to explain, rather it needs to be lived. One knows they are experiencing something.
Qualia means what it is like.
Qualia is relative to someone's context as well. It is hard to tell if an ant is experiencing soda[1] the same way we are, or if dogs feel anything watching a sunset. This also begs to wonder: are we missing important experiences that are beyond our understanding, and, qualia?
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People do their best, maybe what they experience is terrible? How is it like for them?
references
[1]: Neal Stephenson / Fall ; or Dodge in Hell mentions this example.