What is the problem of qualia?

Philosophy Of Mind Questions



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What is the problem of qualia?

The problem of qualia refers to the challenge of explaining subjective experiences or qualities, known as qualia, within the framework of physicalism or materialism. Qualia are the subjective aspects of our conscious experiences, such as the redness of a rose or the taste of chocolate. The problem arises because physicalism asserts that everything can be explained in terms of physical processes, yet qualia seem to be inherently non-physical and resistant to scientific explanation. This raises the question of how subjective experiences can arise from purely physical processes, leading to debates about the nature of consciousness and the mind-body relationship.