qualitative state

In philosophy, a "qualitative state" refers to the subjective, experiential aspect of consciousness, often called "qualia." These are the intrinsic features of an experience, such as the redness of seeing a rose or the feeling of pain, rather than relational properties. Philosophers debate whether these qualities are purely physical, dualistic, or biological. Some theories suggest that apparent qualitative states are not genuine properties but rather the contents of mental representations. The distinction between primary qualities (like shape and motion, measurable by mathematics) and secondary qualities (like color and sound, existing in consciousness) is relevant to understanding these subjective experiences.123